CPT 71046: Chest X-Ray, 2 Views
CPT 71046 reports a radiologic examination of the chest, 2 views (frontal and lateral). It is the standard two-view chest X-ray for evaluating cough, dyspnea, or chest pain. In 2026 Medicare pays about $33.07 for the global service, which splits into a professional (modifier 26) and technical (modifier TC) component.
- Code type
- Diagnostic radiology (chest, 2 views)
- 2026 Medicare (global)
- $33.07
- Components
- Professional (26) + Technical (TC); PC/TC indicator 1
- Global period
- XXX (concept does not apply)
What is CPT 71046 used for?
CPT 71046 reports a radiologic examination of the chest, 2 views — typically a frontal (PA or AP) and a lateral projection. It is the everyday two-view chest X-ray ordered for cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, suspected pneumonia, heart failure, or line and tube placement. It replaced the older 71020 in the 2018 CPT revision, when chest radiography codes were restructured strictly by number of views.
Report 71046 only when two distinct views are obtained. A single view is 71045; three views is 71047; four or more is 71048. Coding by view count is what makes chest radiography one of the more audit-clean areas of radiology — the number of images in the record must match the code.
How much does 71046 pay in 2026, and how does the 26/TC split work?
The 2026 national Medicare allowed amount for the global service is about $33.07. Because 71046 carries a PC/TC indicator of 1, that single global fee divides into two separately payable pieces:
| Component | Modifier | Covers | Approx. 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional | 26 | Physician interpretation and report | ~$8.50 |
| Technical | TC | Equipment, film, technologist, overhead | ~$24.57 |
| Global | (none) | Both, same entity | ~$33.07 |
The professional and technical amounts always add up to the global fee — there is no financial advantage to billing global versus split. Run your locality-adjusted figure through the Medicare fee calculator.
Who bills the professional and technical components?
The answer depends entirely on setting. Example: a hospital takes a two-view chest X-ray on an outpatient. The hospital bills the technical resources through the outpatient facility system, and the interpreting radiologist bills 71046-26 for about $8.50 on the physician fee schedule. Neither bills the $33.07 global.
- Physician office that owns the unit and reads the film: bill 71046 global (no modifier) for ~$33.07.
- Hospital or imaging center owns the equipment; outside radiologist reads: facility captures the technical side, radiologist bills 71046-26.
- Your group owns the equipment but sends images out to be read: bill 71046-TC for the technical portion only.
How does 71046 fit the chest X-ray family?
Chest radiography codes are defined purely by the number of views on the date of service. Choosing the wrong member of the family is a coding error, not a judgment call.
- 71045 — single view.
- 71046 — two views (frontal and lateral).
- 71047 — three views.
- 71048 — four or more views.
Related everyday radiology codes coded the same way include 73030 for a complete shoulder series. For interpretation and payment mechanics that apply across all of these, see modifier 26 and modifier TC.
Frequently asked questions
The 2026 national Medicare allowed amount for the global service is about $33.07. That global fee is the sum of the professional component (interpretation, billed with modifier 26) and the technical component (equipment, film, and staff, billed with modifier TC). Medicare pays 80 percent after the deductible; the patient or secondary owes the 20 percent coinsurance.
Use modifier 26 when your physician only interprets an image taken by someone else — the professional component. Use modifier TC when your entity owns the equipment and takes the film but does not interpret it. Bill 71046 with no modifier (global) only when the same entity performs both the technical work and the interpretation, which is common in a physician office that owns its X-ray unit.
No. As a diagnostic radiology code, 71046 carries a global-period indicator of XXX, meaning the surgical global-period concept does not apply. There is no bundled pre- or post-service window; each chest X-ray is reported and paid on its own date of service based on medical necessity.
Sources & further reading
Reviewed by the ImmediCare Solutions RCM team
Certified billers and coders handling claims across 50+ specialties nationwide. This entry is reviewed against current payer policy and CMS rules. Last review: Jul 5, 2026.
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