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Describe a service in plain words, or type a CPT/HCPCS code.

Medicare's 500 most-billed CPT codes of 2013

In CY2013 Medicare paid $75.9B across these 500 CPT codes. 99213 (Routine Follow-Up Office Visit) leads every measure: 26.7M beneficiaries and $7.0B allowed. Below the top few the rankings split apart. The codes that reach the most patients are rarely the ones that move the most money.

Allowed
$75.9B
Total Medicare allowed dollars
Services
1.2B
Times these codes were billed
Top 25
56.9%
Share of the allowed dollars
Vintage
CY2013
Medicare fee-for-service only

All 500 codes, ranked Copy link

Sorted by allowed per service. Every code links to its full rate breakdown.

Sort by: Overall rank Beneficiaries Services Allowed dollars Allowed per service
# Code What it is Beneficiaries Services Allowed Per service
193 37227 Leg Artery Plaque Removal With Stent 12,552 14,446 $101,481,808 $7,024.91
234 37229 Leg Artery Plaque Removal 15,696 19,265 $78,228,733 $4,060.67
173 37225 Leg Artery Plaque Removal With Balloon Widening 24,294 28,695 $109,662,359 $3,821.65
435 64590 Peripheral Nerve Stimulator Battery Placement 10,767 13,245 $37,885,899 $2,860.39
455 63685 Spinal Cord Stimulator Battery Placement 15,275 21,248 $36,021,951 $1,695.31
137 36475 Radiofrequency Treatment of an Incompetent Extremity Vein 46,672 81,691 $132,530,182 $1,622.34
203 84999 — 54,309 60,431 $96,385,267 $1,594.96
575 67113 — 10,654 17,583 $26,414,834 $1,502.29
501 67108 — 13,850 21,447 $31,027,456 $1,446.70
293 67042 — 25,327 40,754 $57,408,017 $1,408.65
255 33405 — 31,776 51,945 $71,943,537 $1,384.99
189 36478 — 42,846 76,501 $102,377,809 $1,338.25
498 67041 — 16,315 24,010 $31,118,229 $1,296.05
574 66180 — 12,474 21,068 $26,473,306 $1,256.56
554 65756 — 11,703 22,219 $27,347,339 $1,230.81
561 27487 — 14,649 23,335 $27,155,106 $1,163.71
297 22633 — 30,118 49,633 $56,699,758 $1,142.38
161 33533 Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting 65,526 107,482 $119,035,822 $1,107.50
284 22551 Anterior Cervical Spine Fusion 34,667 54,403 $59,775,646 $1,098.76
170 77301 Intensity-Modulated Radiation Treatment Planning 92,739 102,637 $111,883,211 $1,090.09
282 36870 — 37,195 60,233 $62,273,978 $1,033.88
42 27447 Knee Replacement 258,163 428,641 $441,744,946 $1,030.57
187 29827 Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair 58,060 103,129 $103,596,682 $1,004.53
201 27245 Surgical Fixation of a Proximal Femur Fracture 76,431 97,034 $96,695,818 $996.51
308 23472 Total Shoulder Arthroplasty 35,064 55,448 $54,629,814 $985.24
102 27130 Total Hip Arthroplasty 126,636 207,859 $199,436,044 $959.48
220 67228 — 54,973 85,190 $81,590,267 $957.74
494 37226 — 29,632 33,399 $31,805,419 $952.29
364 33249 — 50,496 51,040 $46,711,231 $915.19
240 27236 — 62,155 83,836 $76,407,219 $911.39
175 93229 Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Analysis 114,782 117,989 $107,176,085 $908.36
304 15260 — 53,349 64,010 $55,601,478 $868.64
384 52601 — 48,074 50,851 $42,824,760 $842.16
508 37221 — 31,001 36,736 $30,435,398 $828.49
231 78492 Cardiac PET Scan, Multiple Studies 90,638 97,046 $80,001,992 $824.37
318 35301 — 45,656 64,533 $53,110,395 $823.00
321 00562 — 55,832 68,231 $52,298,364 $766.49
350 50590 — 49,016 69,840 $49,213,021 $704.65
525 29848 — 23,000 41,102 $28,757,471 $699.66
469 91110 — 48,855 50,909 $34,821,380 $683.99
400 00567 — 49,609 61,420 $41,642,333 $677.99
386 67904 — 30,682 64,150 $42,710,699 $665.79
315 29880 — 54,596 80,368 $53,317,127 $663.41
570 36821 — 34,143 40,707 $26,691,243 $655.69
485 19301 — 42,565 51,389 $32,829,956 $638.85
483 92941 — 49,666 52,547 $33,366,441 $634.98
273 29881 — 69,209 100,499 $63,716,366 $634.00
511 63030 — 31,373 48,275 $30,373,098 $629.17
417 47563 — 52,644 64,036 $39,578,597 $618.07
457 78816 Whole-Body PET/CT Imaging 44,108 60,249 $35,981,784 $597.22
226 47562 — 114,848 140,712 $80,527,111 $572.28
346 49505 — 70,566 88,210 $50,093,524 $567.89
216 63047 Lumbar Spine Decompression Surgery 94,816 150,076 $82,965,723 $552.82
148 92928 Coronary Artery Stent Procedure 193,922 231,606 $127,184,347 $549.14
61 17311 Mohs Skin Cancer Surgery, First Stage 458,393 615,206 $321,060,093 $521.87
559 52224 — 42,768 53,186 $27,240,769 $512.18
453 22842 — 44,703 70,650 $36,179,391 $512.09
302 33208 — 108,238 109,479 $55,900,138 $510.60
367 17313 Mohs Surgery on Trunk or Extremities, First Stage 70,077 90,241 $46,025,470 $510.03
63 78815 PET/CT Scan, Skull Base to Thigh 424,642 622,121 $312,810,590 $502.81
365 67210 — 60,341 92,336 $46,282,833 $501.24
532 22840 — 35,565 56,790 $28,287,244 $498.10
568 22845 — 35,223 54,786 $26,711,428 $487.56
87 66982 Complex Cataract Surgery With Lens Implant 157,345 487,871 $230,139,861 $471.72
339 95951 — 36,823 108,268 $51,037,171 $471.40
246 64721 Open Carpal Tunnel Release 103,354 160,724 $75,285,106 $468.41
563 29823 — 38,207 60,262 $27,142,327 $450.41
208 00670 Anesthesia for Spine Surgery 143,190 211,559 $89,756,126 $424.26
309 36561 — 123,607 132,367 $54,230,181 $409.70
557 20680 — 50,390 69,419 $27,247,504 $392.51
444 93460 — 93,582 95,074 $36,543,997 $384.37
566 31237 — 37,947 69,615 $26,742,970 $384.16
123 17312 Mohs Surgery, Additional Stage 258,033 452,548 $171,629,002 $379.25
396 28285 — 54,316 121,577 $41,744,295 $343.36
250 64635 Lumbar or Sacral Facet Nerve Ablation 110,621 214,611 $73,399,134 $342.01
398 77338 — 92,758 124,106 $41,731,471 $336.26
429 26055 — 60,906 116,630 $38,636,099 $331.27
52 45385 Colonoscopy With Polyp Removal 716,588 1,041,040 $341,394,975 $327.94
144 95811 — 346,323 405,384 $131,532,680 $324.46
5 66984 Cataract Surgery 1,295,616 6,993,885 $2,177,652,311 $311.37
311 65855 — 99,553 175,518 $54,144,767 $308.49
410 13121 — 111,474 131,873 $40,416,251 $306.48
437 19103 — 108,696 123,043 $37,639,201 $305.90
179 95810 — 309,850 347,759 $105,826,482 $304.31
442 93459 — 113,443 121,122 $36,606,324 $302.23
262 13132 Complex Skin Wound Repair 198,283 234,270 $69,700,650 $297.52
431 36558 — 109,578 130,392 $38,459,584 $294.95
552 51729 — 86,012 95,019 $27,359,338 $287.94
528 00537 — 66,516 99,772 $28,702,110 $287.68
491 95913 — 103,394 112,045 $31,919,229 $284.88
408 77295 — 127,113 146,589 $40,650,545 $277.31
130 93458 Coronary Angiography and Left Heart Catheterization 513,339 538,203 $148,539,455 $275.99
32 78452 Myocardial Perfusion Imaging 2,128,838 2,257,443 $622,808,450 $275.89
33 90960 Monthly Dialysis Care, Frequent Visits 299,481 2,241,563 $617,408,512 $275.44
353 22851 — 73,129 182,542 $48,647,319 $266.50
549 52281 — 82,565 103,533 $27,537,835 $265.98
571 66761 — 49,338 100,228 $26,532,229 $264.72
331 01214 — 134,573 195,932 $51,763,500 $264.19
449 00630 — 94,961 140,393 $36,281,589 $258.43
296 12032 Intermediate Skin Wound Repair 200,193 223,595 $57,215,897 $255.89
109 45378 Diagnostic Colonoscopy 589,194 753,355 $192,400,967 $255.39
334 45384 — 149,003 202,979 $51,230,319 $252.39
55 45380 Colonoscopy With Tissue Sampling 949,430 1,347,066 $335,720,088 $249.22
319 74183 Abdominal MRI With and Without Contrast 178,422 214,073 $53,032,348 $247.73
154 00790 Anesthesia for Upper Abdominal Surgery 346,753 507,446 $124,428,403 $245.21
188 01402 Anesthesia for Knee Arthroplasty 280,044 422,111 $103,291,785 $244.70
550 43246 — 102,396 115,930 $27,411,000 $236.44
270 72158 — 248,907 284,736 $66,957,446 $235.16
228 77290 — 247,051 342,560 $80,455,073 $234.86
275 00840 — 189,172 273,333 $63,639,353 $232.83
129 90961 Monthly Dialysis Care, Fewer Visits 222,116 672,671 $155,836,119 $231.67
500 29826 — 79,123 135,254 $31,116,059 $230.06
272 90966 Monthly Home Dialysis Services 42,380 286,839 $65,432,790 $228.12
533 43249 — 86,000 126,547 $28,286,938 $223.53
445 55700 — 142,523 163,380 $36,501,366 $223.41
514 99496 Transitional Care After Discharge, Prompt Contact 124,867 136,405 $30,114,500 $220.77
91 70553 Brain MRI With and Without Contrast 842,350 1,012,452 $220,151,875 $217.44
21 99291 Critical Care 1,695,843 5,227,410 $1,130,479,557 $216.26
80 66821 Laser Treatment of the Posterior Lens Capsule 508,737 1,186,857 $255,023,638 $214.87
447 01230 — 121,228 170,154 $36,395,952 $213.90
99 64483 Lumbar or Sacral Transforaminal Epidural Injection 420,274 972,382 $204,562,751 $210.37
424 01844 — 95,935 186,268 $39,126,059 $210.05
473 99236 — 155,226 165,871 $34,540,764 $208.24
489 43248 — 94,309 154,701 $31,934,747 $206.43
195 31231 Diagnostic Nasal Endoscopy 337,450 487,354 $100,143,577 $205.48
422 95911 — 181,002 191,579 $39,233,907 $204.79
433 64490 — 84,868 187,436 $38,360,666 $204.66
470 00320 — 112,066 173,064 $34,817,527 $201.18
479 01630 — 120,675 170,070 $33,740,388 $198.39
8 99223 Extended Hospital Admission Visit 4,635,897 11,122,645 $2,174,293,768 $195.48
378 11750 — 169,157 225,792 $43,846,733 $194.19
36 99205 Longest New Patient Office Visit 2,609,531 2,929,266 $565,361,954 $193.00
78 72148 Lumbar Spine MRI Without Contrast 1,179,584 1,342,003 $255,895,394 $190.68
169 64493 Lumbar or Sacral Facet Joint Injection 271,197 588,932 $112,275,051 $190.64
149 74178 Abdomen and Pelvis CT With and Without Contrast 562,822 661,301 $125,942,602 $190.45
341 93351 — 267,102 273,521 $51,022,902 $186.54
476 10061 — 154,559 182,044 $33,785,319 $185.59
111 52000 Diagnostic Cystoscopy 762,960 1,004,225 $184,997,777 $184.22
407 11043 Muscle and Fascia Wound Debridement 87,640 226,452 $40,769,411 $180.04
182 72141 Cervical Spine MRI Without Contrast 519,413 581,388 $104,603,672 $179.92
475 90962 — 81,886 191,384 $34,315,124 $179.30
47 43239 Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy With Tissue Sampling 1,377,785 2,000,669 $353,290,362 $176.59
101 77427 Radiation Treatment Management 249,223 1,137,608 $199,674,056 $175.52
120 99220 — 864,656 994,319 $174,485,909 $175.48
467 72146 — 181,154 202,639 $34,875,572 $172.11
145 17004 Destruction of Multiple Premalignant Skin Lesions 520,919 784,616 $131,394,162 $167.46
519 95910 — 170,813 177,963 $29,285,733 $164.56
12 99285 Emergency Visit, Highest Urgency 6,325,852 10,541,050 $1,728,173,621 $163.95
225 99350 Established Patient Home or Residence Visit, Level 4 141,445 497,719 $81,014,810 $162.77
96 99306 Initial Nursing Facility Care, Level 3 1,036,413 1,339,539 $216,710,116 $161.78
401 00300 — 165,091 255,941 $41,329,262 $161.48
564 52332 — 115,859 170,071 $27,113,947 $159.43
381 95819 — 247,577 272,777 $43,320,526 $158.81
14 99204 Long New Patient Office Visit 7,281,966 8,967,853 $1,401,035,301 $156.23
488 93975 — 183,035 208,686 $32,542,522 $155.94
391 77263 — 250,313 270,445 $42,125,838 $155.76
243 73221 Upper-Extremity Joint MRI Without Contrast 401,859 490,338 $76,178,808 $155.36
172 73721 Lower-Extremity Joint MRI Without Contrast 575,821 709,932 $110,104,060 $155.09
259 43235 — 359,363 452,090 $69,986,795 $154.81
358 93978 — 270,807 315,440 $47,777,382 $151.46
66 76942 — 1,185,562 1,960,732 $295,338,762 $150.63
465 17262 — 183,793 232,517 $35,004,029 $150.54
536 11602 — 159,955 188,581 $28,026,783 $148.62
370 88368 — 68,848 309,890 $45,593,608 $147.13
520 63048 — 73,106 202,824 $29,197,747 $143.96
136 70551 Brain MRI Without Contrast 860,600 953,619 $136,543,311 $143.18
60 92004 New Patient Eye Examination, Comprehensive 2,165,621 2,267,172 $321,935,966 $142.00
393 01480 — 192,125 296,994 $42,085,993 $141.71
517 88367 — 36,589 209,592 $29,312,351 $139.85
439 27096 — 173,526 266,607 $37,038,397 $138.93
72 96413 Intravenous Antineoplastic Infusion Administration 262,737 2,010,345 $276,995,091 $137.78
362 68761 Lacrimal Punctum Closure 151,388 341,209 $46,854,363 $137.32
210 93925 Bilateral Lower-Extremity Arterial Duplex Study 550,519 654,823 $89,224,830 $136.26
538 01400 — 147,229 205,998 $27,756,978 $134.74
428 95816 Electroencephalography Study 265,278 291,817 $39,026,624 $133.74
545 01936 — 110,789 206,825 $27,607,588 $133.48
17 99215 Longest Follow-Up Office Visit 5,635,244 9,450,643 $1,260,864,232 $133.42
24 99222 Hospital Admission Visit 3,650,595 7,154,507 $949,231,752 $132.68
153 99305 Initial Nursing Facility Care, Level 2 783,150 975,709 $124,783,665 $127.89
265 99219 — 483,724 537,724 $68,415,169 $127.23
165 90791 Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation 812,747 919,051 $116,185,401 $126.42
84 00810 — 1,504,795 1,977,818 $243,335,570 $123.03
253 99183 — 25,022 595,318 $73,174,306 $122.92
135 99310 Subsequent Nursing Facility Care, Level 4 463,963 1,130,921 $137,952,266 $121.98
140 99349 Established Patient Home or Residence Visit, Level 3 269,967 1,086,691 $131,725,988 $121.22
13 92014 Full Eye Exam, Returning Patient 9,276,862 11,715,360 $1,419,866,766 $121.20
372 64636 — 104,167 375,572 $45,419,590 $120.93
287 36556 — 412,999 496,719 $59,081,806 $118.94
325 00400 — 277,100 445,508 $52,235,384 $117.25
277 90792 Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation With Medical Services 468,846 540,346 $63,245,859 $117.05
105 00740 — 1,075,209 1,691,382 $196,615,332 $116.25
463 01992 — 136,881 306,592 $35,505,071 $115.81
142 92235 — 484,368 1,158,605 $131,681,636 $113.66
73 74177 Abdomen and Pelvis CT With Contrast 1,901,570 2,466,709 $276,579,700 $112.12
30 99284 Emergency Visit, High Urgency 4,032,604 5,766,604 $635,669,531 $110.23
316 10060 — 413,114 486,129 $53,150,917 $109.34
492 31500 — 251,936 290,403 $31,497,500 $108.46
268 31575 — 470,774 623,484 $67,535,332 $108.32
352 99292 — 245,279 455,644 $48,806,373 $107.12
555 70498 Neck CT Angiography 197,631 210,052 $22,197,393 $105.68
26 93306 Heart Ultrasound 6,183,659 7,261,387 $766,507,906 $105.56
64 93880 Carotid Artery Duplex Study 2,542,734 2,852,147 $298,741,421 $104.74
115 17110 Destruction of Benign Skin Lesions 1,305,207 1,739,708 $181,994,593 $104.61
450 70544 — 289,705 307,834 $32,158,458 $104.47
94 00142 Anesthesia for Lens Surgery 1,108,564 2,114,258 $217,493,705 $102.87
44 99239 Extended Hospital Discharge Visit 2,768,221 3,953,369 $406,075,200 $102.72
219 71275 Chest CT Angiography 720,178 807,305 $82,460,768 $102.14
19 99203 New Patient Office Visit 8,442,855 10,343,373 $1,052,588,791 $101.76
76 67028 Intravitreal Medication Injection 510,420 2,527,875 $256,917,623 $101.63
512 93312 — 236,266 272,731 $27,627,576 $101.30
10 99233 Extended Daily Hospital Visit 3,491,675 21,685,173 $2,172,285,648 $100.17
544 01810 — 182,391 276,149 $27,615,872 $100.00
2 99214 Long Follow-Up Office Visit 25,114,505 88,968,373 $8,879,227,816 $99.80
462 00910 — 209,502 360,327 $35,524,329 $98.59
117 99221 Initial Hospital Care, Level 1 1,376,374 1,864,504 $180,628,138 $96.88
454 99316 — 284,405 309,338 $29,640,307 $95.82
104 74176 Abdomen and Pelvis CT Without Contrast 1,682,282 2,100,414 $198,869,343 $94.68
357 11730 — 360,683 513,664 $48,069,635 $93.58
332 70486 — 436,678 479,172 $44,437,376 $92.74
541 77280 Radiation Treatment Simulation 179,640 299,734 $27,720,470 $92.48
562 70491 — 195,044 239,258 $21,720,138 $90.78
411 99304 — 333,571 381,918 $34,559,722 $90.49
301 93923 — 498,273 597,030 $52,780,821 $88.41
230 88307 Surgical Pathology Examination, Level V 578,165 918,523 $80,257,416 $87.38
487 88173 — 259,487 351,676 $30,622,176 $87.07
35 92012 Established Patient Eye Examination, Intermediate 3,745,859 6,791,659 $581,583,429 $85.63
359 93224 — 408,985 440,806 $37,638,881 $85.39
29 99309 Extended Nursing Home Visit 1,763,296 8,015,884 $667,183,650 $83.23
345 99348 Established Patient Home or Residence Visit, Level 2 217,724 611,188 $50,484,544 $82.60
159 11042 Subcutaneous Tissue Wound Debridement 402,427 1,451,251 $119,858,400 $82.59
75 90837 Extended Therapy Session 384,208 3,216,008 $265,584,157 $82.58
312 76856 — 473,241 554,678 $43,969,479 $79.27
126 93970 Bilateral Extremity Venous Duplex Study 1,410,961 1,723,384 $136,366,576 $79.13
405 64494 — 241,923 522,773 $41,000,418 $78.43
146 71250 Chest CT Without Contrast 1,272,525 1,617,832 $125,934,432 $77.84
518 92002 — 220,775 222,948 $17,348,410 $77.81
412 64484 — 207,255 522,338 $40,173,191 $76.91
258 95886 Needle Electromyography Study 540,271 935,058 $71,008,834 $75.94
178 76700 Complete Abdominal Ultrasound 985,428 1,117,695 $84,653,118 $75.74
251 76536 Neck Soft-Tissue Ultrasound 670,271 786,398 $58,956,078 $74.97
356 96401 Subcutaneous or Intramuscular Antineoplastic Injection Administration 111,398 648,534 $48,303,448 $74.48
204 96365 Intravenous Therapeutic Infusion Administration 299,098 1,278,455 $94,869,976 $74.21
134 71260 Chest CT With Contrast 1,311,134 1,770,969 $130,623,275 $73.76
212 88112 Cytopathology Examination 759,639 1,216,578 $88,774,166 $72.97
214 90935 — 216,330 1,248,431 $87,567,663 $70.14
155 93015 Complete Cardiovascular Stress Test 1,191,323 1,230,174 $86,151,688 $70.03
448 78306 — 291,693 326,814 $22,774,405 $69.69
4 99232 Daily Hospital Visit 5,032,676 49,690,437 $3,433,156,852 $69.09
58 99238 Hospital Discharge Visit 2,905,213 4,089,948 $282,133,280 $68.98
471 96417 — 92,506 504,512 $34,776,525 $68.93
56 99202 New Patient Office Visit, Level 2 2,942,960 3,125,160 $214,917,639 $68.77
77 92250 Fundus Photography 2,349,024 2,860,800 $196,257,856 $68.60
176 99217 — 1,013,598 1,142,057 $77,916,591 $68.22
486 99315 — 262,317 284,921 $19,413,512 $68.14
558 73700 — 196,831 222,237 $15,140,296 $68.13
426 88331 — 312,645 555,571 $37,705,967 $67.87
1 99213 Routine Follow-Up Office Visit 26,717,318 103,145,125 $6,990,008,028 $67.77
423 99225 — 315,290 467,092 $31,644,142 $67.75
394 72131 Lumbar Spine CT Without Contrast 351,469 388,361 $25,675,461 $66.11
163 76770 Complete Retroperitoneal Ultrasound 1,108,392 1,270,789 $83,694,216 $65.86
546 76857 — 200,072 259,721 $17,075,146 $65.74
48 17000 Precancerous Skin Spot Removal 3,492,265 5,197,918 $341,015,122 $65.61
28 99308 Nursing Home Visit 2,092,529 10,817,281 $692,166,909 $63.99
274 93922 — 566,697 678,986 $42,720,760 $62.92
249 76775 — 673,693 757,959 $47,531,259 $62.71
71 92083 Comprehensive Visual Field Examination 2,420,226 2,838,051 $177,209,042 $62.44
543 76872 — 201,548 233,541 $14,437,150 $61.82
70 88342 Immunohistochemistry Study, Initial Antibody 1,270,683 4,600,388 $280,159,786 $60.90
402 20605 — 345,996 503,073 $30,401,728 $60.43
181 92136 Ophthalmic Biometry for Intraocular Lens Planning 981,882 1,654,736 $97,407,651 $58.87
427 76519 — 311,084 496,731 $28,681,430 $57.74
50 90834 Standard Therapy Session 688,481 6,045,167 $348,997,398 $57.73
167 11056 Paring of Multiple Benign Foot Lesions 798,483 1,951,094 $112,334,027 $57.57
278 97597 — 355,263 1,100,913 $63,242,292 $57.45
540 77002 — 203,325 345,669 $19,696,401 $56.98
67 99283 Emergency Department Visit, Level 3 2,617,576 3,593,606 $204,417,892 $56.88
49 20610 Major Joint Injection or Aspiration 2,848,146 6,196,108 $352,194,182 $56.84
344 76830 — 425,657 492,412 $27,709,584 $56.27
199 88185 — 71,348 1,753,621 $98,381,525 $56.10
183 88312 Special Stain for Microorganisms 974,934 1,643,114 $91,588,181 $55.74
526 78582 — 214,921 230,065 $12,671,567 $55.08
503 90836 — 119,108 567,351 $30,811,323 $54.31
221 72125 Cervical Spine CT Without Contrast 779,884 881,692 $46,686,081 $52.95
264 77003 — 603,684 1,057,338 $55,420,602 $52.42
317 20550 — 466,225 767,095 $39,327,129 $51.27
298 36620 — 509,451 566,186 $28,314,613 $50.01
174 94060 Bronchodilator Responsiveness Testing 1,019,720 1,243,956 $61,185,152 $49.19
151 69210 Impacted Earwax Removal 1,260,944 1,579,176 $77,180,360 $48.87
403 64450 — 131,673 854,616 $41,255,345 $48.27
23 88305 Biopsy Tissue Examination 7,511,901 19,898,257 $954,919,284 $47.99
523 20552 — 217,098 339,235 $15,900,820 $46.87
307 11055 — 478,660 909,842 $42,072,552 $46.24
131 93971 Unilateral Extremity Venous Duplex Study 1,344,296 1,697,972 $78,184,920 $46.05
481 83698 — 264,537 348,909 $15,992,687 $45.84
263 83880 Natriuretic Peptide Test 626,316 959,781 $43,429,335 $45.25
233 77300 — 279,567 1,789,354 $79,445,937 $44.40
269 98942 — 184,544 1,514,030 $67,200,870 $44.39
565 87621 — 193,170 207,518 $9,208,519 $44.37
85 92134 Retina Scan 2,188,881 4,971,667 $219,551,097 $44.16
180 90832 Brief Therapy Session 411,955 2,399,833 $105,261,871 $43.86
57 11721 Debridement of Multiple Nails 2,806,265 7,480,986 $324,451,793 $43.37
340 83704 — 426,825 597,039 $25,294,743 $42.37
92 92133 Optic Nerve Imaging by Optical Coherence Tomography 2,049,490 2,298,038 $97,255,058 $42.32
425 77057 — 314,340 326,817 $13,604,566 $41.63
45 70450 Head CT Without Contrast 3,696,138 5,391,126 $223,784,298 $41.51
133 99307 Subsequent Nursing Facility Care, Level 1 1,068,491 3,531,289 $146,504,298 $41.49
480 20600 — 264,765 408,685 $16,720,878 $40.91
15 99212 Brief Follow-Up Office Visit 9,011,907 17,408,817 $703,711,749 $40.42
39 82306 Vitamin D Blood Test 4,252,814 5,827,937 $230,133,699 $39.49
197 94729 Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity Test 893,439 984,603 $38,612,560 $39.22
198 76705 Limited Abdominal Ultrasound 890,885 1,023,011 $39,156,252 $38.28
377 99282 — 377,663 443,127 $16,904,203 $38.15
285 94726 Pulmonary Lung Volume Study 534,185 582,997 $22,083,909 $37.88
46 99231 Subsequent Hospital Care, Level 1 2,428,480 10,807,414 $401,448,469 $37.15
171 92557 Comprehensive Hearing Assessment 1,053,542 1,147,449 $42,417,258 $36.97
415 94727 — 326,578 357,319 $12,930,080 $36.19
218 88313 Special Histochemical Stain 785,516 1,745,586 $62,706,278 $35.92
200 84403 Total Testosterone Test 877,577 1,290,167 $44,495,804 $34.49
41 98941 Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation, Multiple Regions 1,387,965 13,110,868 $451,837,958 $34.46
343 97113 — 65,236 1,468,078 $50,542,405 $34.43
472 88175 — 269,111 286,679 $9,858,898 $34.39
443 84402 — 294,265 395,987 $13,517,628 $34.14
380 90833 Psychotherapy With Evaluation and Management 374,293 1,256,985 $42,248,396 $33.61
79 77080 Central Bone Density Study 2,347,157 2,443,667 $77,963,043 $31.90
86 97530 Daily-Activity Therapy 646,749 7,302,882 $232,454,797 $31.83
186 11720 Debridement of Nails 958,924 2,308,523 $73,138,745 $31.68
438 73565 — 298,568 348,052 $10,891,146 $31.29
190 94010 Spirometry 943,749 1,313,716 $41,088,115 $31.28
290 96367 — 182,663 1,886,318 $58,772,763 $31.16
283 92225 — 540,263 906,234 $28,196,197 $31.11
535 97535 Self-Care and Home Management Training 207,934 900,191 $27,348,074 $30.38
90 97112 Balance and Coordination Therapy 725,083 7,473,160 $225,896,396 $30.23
573 88108 — 189,447 262,814 $7,937,585 $30.20
478 96415 — 153,674 1,137,011 $33,761,493 $29.69
209 92226 — 849,752 2,383,744 $69,982,583 $29.36
202 72110 Multi-View Lumbar Spine Radiograph 862,112 954,299 $27,884,391 $29.22
196 73564 Complete Knee Radiograph Study 908,001 1,217,283 $35,177,667 $28.90
363 72050 — 402,843 438,947 $12,479,720 $28.43
420 74230 — 322,040 385,691 $10,756,997 $27.89
224 92020 Gonioscopy 772,279 882,086 $24,440,597 $27.71
18 97110 Physical Therapy Exercises 2,133,777 42,712,902 $1,157,469,044 $27.10
121 73562 Knee Radiograph 1,451,715 2,110,817 $56,220,822 $26.63
569 76376 — 192,272 226,142 $5,922,384 $26.19
383 86334 Immunofixation Electrophoresis 369,632 560,812 $14,663,938 $26.15
125 83925 — 802,862 6,497,649 $169,544,721 $26.09
413 93320 — 332,141 361,794 $9,377,104 $25.92
434 82378 — 302,447 650,322 $16,649,366 $25.60
387 93227 — 359,784 393,213 $9,908,119 $25.20
127 98940 Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation 880,493 6,692,797 $168,372,929 $25.16
409 94762 — 336,535 380,319 $9,543,999 $25.09
504 84154 — 242,673 307,171 $7,621,007 $24.81
74 84153 Prostate-Specific Antigen Test 2,390,531 3,434,500 $85,131,226 $24.79
395 77001 — 349,140 447,948 $10,963,849 $24.48
65 96372 Therapeutic Injection Administration 2,718,771 9,478,391 $228,978,988 $24.16
40 97140 Hands-On Physical Therapy 1,530,364 19,375,901 $466,145,253 $24.06
373 90471 — 385,788 432,468 $10,250,690 $23.70
295 73620 — 510,715 778,192 $18,402,310 $23.65
537 73100 — 207,933 346,918 $8,150,724 $23.49
326 83805 — 443,067 959,712 $22,519,760 $23.47
531 86235 — 210,522 1,070,393 $25,047,508 $23.40
406 83090 — 341,255 439,864 $10,034,934 $22.81
452 97116 Gait Training 197,419 1,590,714 $36,189,007 $22.75
11 84443 Thyroid Blood Test 10,118,447 15,398,584 $348,847,030 $22.65
466 73140 — 275,063 362,591 $8,106,266 $22.36
107 73630 Foot Radiograph 1,616,075 2,489,960 $55,119,364 $22.14
110 72100 Lumbar Spine Radiograph 1,600,191 1,999,784 $44,055,008 $22.03
235 84481 Free Triiodothyronine Test 721,269 1,035,230 $22,778,465 $22.00
252 73110 Wrist Radiograph 669,087 992,947 $21,776,419 $21.93
288 72040 — 521,846 650,265 $14,229,584 $21.88
261 83840 — 637,712 1,839,911 $39,973,376 $21.73
461 96375 — 199,007 1,649,788 $35,731,382 $21.66
482 92550 — 263,828 285,923 $6,033,663 $21.10
122 73560 Limited Knee Radiograph Study 1,423,205 2,116,651 $44,509,125 $21.03
355 82274 — 413,641 451,524 $9,461,525 $20.95
160 93016 Cardiovascular Stress Test Supervision 1,124,574 1,161,005 $24,066,544 $20.73
59 82607 Vitamin B12 Laboratory Test 2,865,869 3,763,711 $76,602,867 $20.35
98 73030 Shoulder Radiograph 1,795,394 2,487,516 $50,495,985 $20.30
430 72070 — 305,971 349,151 $7,005,475 $20.06
205 73610 Ankle Radiograph 859,014 1,264,561 $24,936,281 $19.72
100 82746 Folate Laboratory Test 1,698,123 2,179,075 $42,953,742 $19.71
143 51798 Bladder Residual Urine Measurement 1,277,608 2,007,230 $39,071,560 $19.47
507 86376 — 240,407 284,595 $5,538,430 $19.46
93 99211 Established Patient Office Visit, Level 1 1,953,118 6,355,032 $122,885,219 $19.34
567 73600 — 193,169 266,581 $5,154,284 $19.33
320 86803 — 455,623 539,940 $10,371,394 $19.21
223 73130 Hand Radiograph 774,937 1,071,006 $20,560,429 $19.20
247 84480 — 674,153 940,429 $17,819,201 $18.95
499 71101 — 248,820 269,950 $5,066,567 $18.77
458 92285 — 283,098 344,921 $6,417,095 $18.60
542 86225 — 202,125 249,012 $4,591,348 $18.44
572 82610 — 191,439 296,669 $5,442,751 $18.35
114 82728 Ferritin Laboratory Test 1,537,024 2,479,222 $45,481,135 $18.34
338 94640 — 426,896 650,165 $11,849,618 $18.23
22 93000 Heart Tracing 7,674,374 11,658,544 $211,817,545 $18.17
192 88304 Surgical Pathology Examination, Level III 935,576 1,123,198 $20,391,603 $18.15
360 73500 — 404,975 528,122 $9,301,019 $17.61
451 83695 — 287,446 392,050 $6,870,720 $17.53
327 86141 — 442,868 581,352 $10,169,380 $17.49
516 86200 — 222,437 245,715 $4,284,852 $17.44
509 71100 — 238,266 265,599 $4,603,603 $17.33
456 73080 — 283,724 345,075 $5,853,016 $16.96
241 84165 Serum Protein Electrophoresis 680,998 1,006,255 $16,792,060 $16.69
118 72170 Pelvis Radiograph 1,474,164 1,877,999 $31,136,740 $16.58
276 74022 — 551,427 696,198 $11,347,347 $16.30
238 86038 Antinuclear Antibody Test 715,278 826,868 $13,460,979 $16.28
539 72072 — 205,252 221,597 $3,526,102 $15.91
440 87804 Influenza Antigen Test 296,708 517,376 $8,085,445 $15.63
392 87880 Streptococcus Antigen Test 355,082 398,117 $6,116,488 $15.36
432 83525 — 302,945 419,987 $6,449,821 $15.36
337 76937 — 428,685 545,389 $8,356,414 $15.32
416 83516 — 325,839 628,836 $9,346,978 $14.86
468 73060 — 274,368 371,500 $5,459,673 $14.70
446 82055 — 293,199 733,020 $10,556,701 $14.40
9 80061 Cholesterol Blood Panel 12,902,324 20,554,644 $289,720,951 $14.10
354 76514 — 416,794 445,307 $6,218,728 $13.97
138 93018 Cardiovascular Stress Test Interpretation 1,293,458 1,342,502 $18,698,396 $13.93
257 92567 Tympanometry 648,288 739,596 $10,291,891 $13.92
513 87340 — 235,079 255,820 $3,505,934 $13.70
375 73590 — 382,524 507,297 $6,925,254 $13.65
551 73090 — 198,781 239,515 $3,142,262 $13.12
496 99406 — 250,550 368,315 $4,828,305 $13.11
25 83036 Average Blood Sugar Test 7,111,212 13,293,974 $173,358,399 $13.04
280 88311 — 546,018 654,995 $8,358,352 $12.76
213 83721 — 822,559 1,249,630 $15,912,624 $12.73
245 95165 Allergen Immunotherapy Preparation 184,537 6,083,580 $75,436,609 $12.40
323 51741 — 446,675 604,248 $7,381,031 $12.22
53 84439 Free T4 Thyroid Test 3,169,312 4,653,137 $56,339,936 $12.11
254 87070 — 657,936 841,635 $9,774,807 $11.61
132 83550 Iron-Binding Capacity Test 1,339,306 2,087,701 $24,123,412 $11.56
108 87186 Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing 1,615,723 2,860,648 $32,817,029 $11.47
6 80053 Full Metabolic Blood Panel 14,148,401 28,483,873 $315,498,512 $11.08
521 83718 — 217,864 336,323 $3,703,736 $11.01
54 87086 Urine Culture 2,971,453 5,094,991 $55,396,089 $10.87
116 87088 Urine Culture Identification 1,527,261 2,484,986 $26,330,126 $10.60
306 97035 — 485,488 3,169,186 $33,178,589 $10.47
139 87077 Microorganism Identification From Culture 1,285,019 2,037,257 $21,289,690 $10.45
7 85025 Blood Cell Count With Differential 13,374,177 31,003,258 $321,575,755 $10.37
305 80069 Renal Function Panel 490,124 988,001 $10,194,303 $10.32
329 93005 — 440,573 521,169 $5,011,598 $9.62
34 80048 Basic Metabolic Blood Panel 4,652,436 8,667,408 $82,757,056 $9.55
300 84311 — 504,427 1,277,491 $11,999,047 $9.39
128 84436 Total Thyroxine Test 1,361,299 1,842,626 $16,819,021 $9.13
371 83690 — 387,390 488,231 $4,454,207 $9.12
124 83735 Magnesium Laboratory Test 1,420,431 2,673,095 $23,922,665 $8.95
348 82150 — 421,365 542,408 $4,740,026 $8.74
83 85027 Blood Cell Count 2,224,775 3,617,097 $31,049,740 $8.58
292 11719 — 518,687 1,372,263 $11,730,444 $8.55
236 84479 — 717,869 973,838 $8,313,592 $8.54
103 83540 Iron Laboratory Test 1,693,953 2,678,956 $22,805,810 $8.51
342 85730 — 426,548 640,699 $5,169,600 $8.07
20 93010 Heart Tracing Reading 8,195,378 19,347,800 $156,097,968 $8.07
333 93325 Echocardiographic Color Flow Mapping 435,035 492,262 $3,851,810 $7.82
289 86431 — 521,105 596,237 $4,562,277 $7.65
112 80076 Hepatic Function Panel 1,539,116 2,451,222 $18,456,899 $7.53
399 93042 — 347,531 620,772 $4,495,299 $7.24
81 82043 Urine Albumin Test 2,346,730 3,098,697 $22,135,822 $7.14
51 82570 Urine Creatinine Test 3,327,090 5,727,852 $39,576,038 $6.91
164 86140 C-Reactive Protein Test 1,090,306 1,879,206 $12,903,825 $6.87
286 95004 — 166,189 9,078,303 $59,618,010 $6.57
69 17003 Additional Premalignant Skin Lesion Destruction 2,609,453 16,453,864 $106,808,467 $6.49
495 86592 — 251,868 286,117 $1,645,185 $5.75
460 87205 — 281,481 367,163 $2,046,706 $5.57
477 85045 — 266,403 368,223 $1,989,506 $5.40
322 82044 — 453,155 593,216 $3,168,090 $5.34
88 85610 Prothrombin Time Test 2,146,096 18,615,637 $98,420,727 $5.29
310 84156 Urine Protein Test 474,917 771,359 $3,807,649 $4.94
560 88300 — 196,160 220,181 $1,079,636 $4.90
119 82550 Creatine Kinase Test 1,451,773 2,233,852 $10,849,374 $4.86
207 85651 — 852,058 1,389,616 $6,627,608 $4.77
553 85007 — 197,960 415,165 $1,906,866 $4.59
404 80051 — 342,191 544,962 $2,441,300 $4.48
244 82270 — 678,853 681,736 $2,963,151 $4.35
38 81001 Urine Test With Microscope Exam 4,453,915 7,225,386 $30,779,254 $4.26
106 81000 — 1,652,506 2,911,556 $12,356,222 $4.24
157 82947 — 1,133,269 2,476,607 $10,088,471 $4.07
215 83615 Lactate Dehydrogenase Test 811,807 1,828,866 $6,937,050 $3.79
89 84550 Uric Acid Laboratory Test 2,113,939 3,423,734 $12,629,122 $3.69
141 85652 Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Test 1,283,816 1,956,150 $7,111,068 $3.64
62 81002 Manual Urinalysis 2,799,133 4,430,864 $15,103,401 $3.41
313 84132 — 471,599 740,054 $2,459,121 $3.32
150 82565 Blood Creatinine Test 1,268,954 2,049,741 $6,635,354 $3.24
303 82977 — 496,847 882,471 $2,830,640 $3.21
484 85014 — 262,522 482,006 $1,536,054 $3.19
379 85018 — 374,368 735,011 $2,335,717 $3.18
147 84460 Alanine Aminotransferase Test 1,272,358 2,085,892 $6,460,295 $3.10
227 82962 — 765,305 2,303,113 $7,125,652 $3.09
335 82310 — 434,334 624,024 $1,918,463 $3.07
418 84478 — 325,170 477,361 $1,465,429 $3.07
43 81003 Automated Urinalysis 3,807,753 6,350,926 $19,170,713 $3.02
194 84100 Phosphorus Laboratory Test 922,061 1,756,313 $5,237,920 $2.98
3 36415 Blood Draw 18,663,331 61,175,241 $180,152,232 $2.94
347 84155 — 423,899 584,743 $1,664,512 $2.85
474 82465 — 266,785 389,049 $1,107,329 $2.85
168 84450 — 1,071,006 1,686,819 $4,498,416 $2.67
385 82040 — 365,919 603,837 $1,353,113 $2.24
490 84295 — 252,644 438,565 $974,771 $2.22
177 82248 Direct Bilirubin Test 1,005,476 1,539,982 $3,242,767 $2.11
229 84520 — 764,410 1,181,865 $2,441,488 $2.07
397 84075 — 348,792 538,745 $933,736 $1.73
464 82247 — 276,746 535,344 $910,549 $1.70

Beneficiary counts apply to one code at a time. A patient who received two of these codes is counted under both, so the column cannot be added up into a number of people. Rank is each code's position among all 7,742 CPT codes billed to Medicare in CY2013, so the column skips a number wherever a code we don't yet cover sits.

Which codes bring in the most Medicare money? Copy link

Spending is heavily concentrated. The top 25 codes carry 56.9% of the $75.9B these 500 codes account for.

  1. 1 99214 Long Follow-Up Office Visit $8.9B
  2. 2 99213 Routine Follow-Up Office Visit $7.0B
  3. 3 99232 Daily Hospital Visit $3.4B
  4. 4 66984 Cataract Surgery $2.2B
  5. 5 99223 Extended Hospital Admission Visit $2.2B
  6. 6 99233 Extended Daily Hospital Visit $2.2B
  7. 7 99285 Emergency Visit, Highest Urgency $1.7B
  8. 8 92014 Full Eye Exam, Returning Patient $1.4B
  9. 9 99204 Long New Patient Office Visit $1.4B
  10. 10 99215 Longest Follow-Up Office Visit $1.3B

Why the most common codes aren't the most expensive Copy link

Rank the same 500 codes by patients and then by dollars, and the two lists disagree. A cheap service given to millions and a costly one given to thousands can land far apart depending on which question you ask.

Many patients, little money
82248 Direct Bilirubin Test
By beneficiaries
#117
By allowed dollars
#478
Per service
$2.11
Few patients, lots of money
37225 Leg Artery Plaque Removal With Balloon Widening
By beneficiaries
#489
By allowed dollars
#111
Per service
$3,821.65

What this data covers—and what it doesn't Copy link

These are CY2013 Medicare fee-for-service totals at the national level. Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and commercial volume are excluded, so real-world use of every code here runs higher than the numbers show.

Beneficiary counts belong to a single code. Summing that column would count the same patient once for every code they received, so this page never totals it or calls it a patient count.

The shortlist covers numeric CPT codes. Drug codes and HCPCS Level II are left out on purpose. Drug codes are billed per unit, which makes service counts incomparable, and HCPCS Level II codes already carry CMS-owned descriptions.

How the ranking is built Copy link

A code's overall position is its best standing across two measures: unique beneficiaries served and total allowed dollars. Ranking on either one alone buries half the story—beneficiaries favor cheap high-volume tests, dollars favor expensive procedures. Sort the table by a single measure to see each view on its own. The ranking spans all 7,742 CPT codes billed to Medicare in CY2013; this table shows the top 500 we cover.

Source: CMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners—by Geography and Service, national rows, CY2013. This is a calendar-year snapshot on its own publication cycle, separate from the quarterly fee schedule that produces the rates on each code page. Full methodology.

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