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

Medicare's 500 most-billed CPT codes of 2015

In CY2015 Medicare paid $77.5B across these 500 CPT codes. 99213 (Routine Follow-Up Office Visit) leads every measure: 26.7M beneficiaries and $6.8B 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
$77.5B
Total Medicare allowed dollars
Services
1.2B
Times these codes were billed
Top 25
57.5%
Share of the allowed dollars
Vintage
CY2015
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
128 37227 Leg Artery Plaque Removal With Stent Retired after Q4 2025 15,464 18,320 $151,625,735 $8,276.51
126 37225 Leg Artery Plaque Removal With Balloon Widening Retired after Q4 2025 28,480 33,847 $156,805,841 $4,632.78
165 37229 Leg Artery Plaque Removal Retired after Q4 2025 20,148 25,372 $117,406,188 $4,627.39
257 37241 — 11,563 18,674 $72,238,188 $3,868.38
216 63685 Spinal Cord Stimulator Battery Placement 15,949 23,039 $83,368,586 $3,618.59
391 64590 Peripheral Nerve Stimulator Battery Placement 10,671 13,281 $42,113,978 $3,170.99
417 22514 — 23,114 25,307 $39,661,812 $1,567.23
464 22513 — 20,451 23,066 $35,612,361 $1,543.93
539 67113 — 11,123 18,636 $28,148,224 $1,510.42
482 67108 — 14,520 22,901 $33,019,269 $1,441.83
274 33405 — 28,451 45,889 $64,595,856 $1,407.65
134 36475 Radiofrequency Treatment of an Incompetent Extremity Vein 58,064 103,704 $145,572,821 $1,403.73
562 55866 — 14,954 20,322 $26,652,648 $1,311.52
566 77373 — 4,164 20,127 $26,359,743 $1,309.67
550 25609 — 15,151 21,946 $27,516,895 $1,253.85
532 65756 — 11,874 23,103 $28,591,916 $1,237.58
271 22633 — 33,462 54,725 $65,669,739 $1,200.00
557 67041 — 15,277 22,800 $27,158,157 $1,191.15
348 67042 — 25,407 41,751 $49,649,108 $1,189.17
561 27487 — 14,236 22,667 $26,670,470 $1,176.62
269 22551 Anterior Cervical Spine Fusion 36,929 58,641 $68,280,784 $1,164.39
202 36478 — 42,099 80,349 $91,694,204 $1,141.20
161 33533 Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting 64,853 105,032 $119,653,189 $1,139.21
474 93656 Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation 28,600 29,861 $33,809,561 $1,132.23
497 37226 — Retired after Q4 2025 26,549 29,532 $31,516,425 $1,067.20
169 77301 Intensity-Modulated Radiation Treatment Planning 101,065 111,940 $115,026,811 $1,027.58
166 29827 Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair 62,429 114,259 $117,060,216 $1,024.52
294 36870 — Retired after Q4 2016 35,945 57,819 $58,809,199 $1,017.13
336 33249 — 49,608 50,239 $51,005,461 $1,015.26
183 27245 Surgical Fixation of a Proximal Femur Fracture 79,733 102,062 $102,686,007 $1,006.11
421 77523 — 1,595 39,587 $39,525,407 $998.44
267 23472 Total Shoulder Arthroplasty 43,250 69,082 $68,341,673 $989.28
555 37228 — Retired after Q4 2025 24,204 27,900 $27,235,923 $976.20
483 37221 — Retired after Q4 2025 29,624 34,031 $32,751,915 $962.41
172 78492 Cardiac PET Scan, Multiple Studies 106,366 115,747 $108,923,961 $941.05
253 67228 — 50,974 78,490 $73,245,717 $933.19
238 27236 — 60,645 82,537 $75,731,093 $917.54
44 27447 Knee Replacement 261,216 439,180 $401,582,531 $914.39
96 27130 Total Hip Arthroplasty 138,368 230,325 $209,612,705 $910.07
331 35301 — 41,655 58,691 $52,500,516 $894.52
380 52601 — 46,961 49,653 $43,871,218 $883.56
130 93229 Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Analysis 166,168 171,357 $151,263,305 $882.74
308 15260 — 54,369 64,550 $56,512,423 $875.48
354 00562 — 50,880 62,258 $48,134,095 $773.14
329 50590 — 50,160 71,393 $53,404,236 $748.03
385 67904 — 28,974 60,769 $42,937,526 $706.57
508 29848 — 25,001 44,392 $30,809,814 $694.04
376 00567 — 51,755 64,148 $44,309,069 $690.73
487 63030 — 30,258 47,601 $32,440,557 $681.51
350 29880 — 49,288 73,438 $49,203,393 $670.00
491 92941 — 46,255 48,531 $32,319,532 $665.96
404 78816 Whole-Body PET/CT Imaging 47,794 63,199 $41,118,487 $650.62
290 29881 — 63,627 92,755 $59,134,465 $637.53
490 91110 — 48,862 50,906 $32,399,775 $636.46
468 19301 — 46,090 55,400 $35,038,560 $632.46
459 47563 — 46,820 56,851 $35,937,998 $632.14
199 63047 Lumbar Spine Decompression Surgery 101,403 161,682 $95,246,775 $589.10
228 47562 — 109,490 133,552 $78,204,425 $585.57
362 49505 — 63,347 79,381 $46,394,498 $584.45
143 92928 Coronary Artery Stent Procedure 196,164 238,214 $134,578,937 $564.95
55 78815 PET/CT Scan, Skull Base to Thigh 419,455 592,448 $329,510,748 $556.19
303 33208 — 103,879 105,259 $56,769,812 $539.33
251 95951 — Retired after Q4 2019 47,584 137,368 $73,588,540 $535.70
325 17313 Mohs Surgery on Trunk or Extremities, First Stage 79,692 100,833 $53,671,520 $532.28
49 17311 Mohs Skin Cancer Surgery, First Stage 511,917 678,849 $360,666,388 $531.29
411 22842 — 48,487 76,624 $40,555,223 $529.28
438 29824 — 40,659 72,988 $37,780,664 $517.63
486 22840 — 39,564 63,039 $32,600,092 $517.14
529 22845 — 36,932 57,523 $28,888,681 $502.21
454 67210 — 48,743 74,346 $36,231,107 $487.33
241 64721 Open Carpal Tunnel Release 101,354 158,361 $74,529,033 $470.63
503 64633 — 36,563 71,288 $31,061,920 $435.72
156 64635 Lumbar or Sacral Facet Nerve Ablation 143,254 283,558 $123,379,046 $435.11
189 00670 Anesthesia for Spine Surgery 157,691 233,558 $100,895,403 $431.99
524 20680 — 50,265 70,107 $29,233,298 $416.98
314 36561 — 126,845 135,054 $55,656,857 $412.11
86 66982 Complex Cataract Surgery With Lens Implant 157,344 572,308 $225,724,746 $394.41
463 93460 — 90,293 91,518 $35,661,225 $389.66
111 17312 Mohs Surgery, Additional Stage 277,676 468,237 $175,148,036 $374.06
428 28285 — 48,259 106,978 $38,416,360 $359.11
48 45385 Colonoscopy With Polyp Removal 779,484 1,134,550 $388,136,903 $342.11
374 77338 — 101,341 133,210 $44,436,352 $333.58
402 26055 — 65,018 123,871 $41,151,764 $332.21
466 19083 — 104,697 108,310 $35,207,619 $325.06
527 00537 — 60,631 90,580 $29,091,786 $321.17
152 95811 — 348,727 406,712 $128,153,974 $315.10
352 13121 — 133,921 158,223 $48,240,301 $304.89
476 93459 — 104,591 111,372 $33,746,668 $303.01
431 36558 — 108,633 127,251 $38,148,979 $299.79
315 65855 — 104,895 184,763 $55,099,093 $298.21
192 95810 — 301,758 336,953 $99,332,394 $294.80
236 13132 Complex Skin Wound Repair 223,367 263,060 $75,803,091 $288.16
393 77295 — 129,227 149,578 $41,999,388 $280.79
553 95913 — 91,160 97,802 $27,419,804 $280.36
31 90960 Monthly Dialysis Care, Frequent Visits 304,529 2,240,591 $626,158,454 $279.46
137 93458 Coronary Angiography and Left Heart Catheterization 497,112 519,590 $144,011,447 $277.16
305 22851 — Retired after Q4 2016 81,418 205,797 $56,754,298 $275.78
299 01214 — 146,142 213,370 $57,341,061 $268.74
457 00630 — 92,713 135,561 $36,041,136 $265.87
375 45384 — 124,786 169,145 $44,420,767 $262.62
120 45378 Diagnostic Colonoscopy 499,232 630,923 $165,210,463 $261.86
37 78452 Myocardial Perfusion Imaging 1,957,160 2,059,963 $534,825,362 $259.63
420 55700 — Retired after Q4 2025 134,557 154,806 $39,547,889 $255.47
50 45380 Colonoscopy With Tissue Sampling 978,405 1,397,267 $355,381,652 $254.34
158 00790 Anesthesia for Upper Abdominal Surgery 327,599 481,137 $121,272,299 $252.05
287 12032 Intermediate Skin Wound Repair 215,845 240,451 $60,117,434 $250.02
178 01402 Anesthesia for Knee Arthroplasty 283,190 425,652 $106,353,907 $249.86
9 66984 Cataract Surgery 1,256,710 8,407,213 $2,096,937,067 $249.42
504 43249 — 87,333 128,025 $30,927,442 $241.57
276 00840 — 187,003 270,488 $64,516,634 $238.52
547 72197 Pelvic MRI With and Without Contrast 103,928 118,407 $27,785,383 $234.66
119 90961 Monthly Dialysis Care, Fewer Visits 231,635 708,939 $166,179,848 $234.41
248 90966 Monthly Home Dialysis Services 46,892 322,182 $74,040,921 $229.81
296 74183 Abdominal MRI With and Without Contrast 212,417 256,681 $57,908,176 $225.60
262 77290 — 229,453 307,048 $69,124,990 $225.13
21 99291 Critical Care 1,719,079 5,330,921 $1,190,148,075 $223.25
82 64483 Lumbar or Sacral Transforaminal Epidural Injection 470,180 1,073,764 $238,542,527 $222.16
479 43248 — 92,949 151,049 $33,077,444 $218.98
244 99496 Transitional Care After Discharge, Prompt Contact 300,471 339,903 $74,215,331 $218.34
441 01230 — 122,086 172,116 $37,520,035 $217.99
426 01844 — 93,230 177,135 $38,597,798 $217.90
444 95911 — 164,226 170,932 $36,980,695 $216.35
364 64490 — 97,364 216,522 $46,271,837 $213.71
485 99236 — 145,360 153,214 $32,673,407 $213.25
324 93351 — 254,376 259,441 $53,967,659 $208.02
469 00320 — 110,159 170,280 $34,978,004 $205.41
138 64493 Lumbar or Sacral Facet Joint Injection 313,861 687,014 $139,248,887 $202.69
180 31231 Diagnostic Nasal Endoscopy 364,386 528,296 $106,072,623 $200.78
8 99223 Extended Hospital Admission Visit 4,498,958 10,834,238 $2,173,109,941 $200.58
478 01630 — 118,942 167,932 $33,677,798 $200.54
33 99205 Longest New Patient Office Visit 2,570,315 2,883,738 $565,509,468 $196.10
77 66821 Laser Treatment of the Posterior Lens Capsule 514,402 1,315,087 $256,658,988 $195.17
398 11750 — 160,810 211,958 $41,232,717 $194.53
102 52000 Diagnostic Cystoscopy 744,721 981,649 $186,347,040 $189.83
506 10061 — 141,020 165,690 $30,855,333 $186.22
99 77427 Radiation Treatment Management 244,667 1,080,824 $197,604,959 $182.83
89 99220 — Retired after Q4 2022 1,061,932 1,239,298 $224,834,438 $181.42
335 11043 Muscle and Fascia Wound Debridement 102,451 286,166 $51,394,988 $179.60
450 90962 — 86,791 203,759 $36,551,614 $179.39
346 72158 — 246,537 282,200 $49,755,078 $176.31
535 95910 — 158,456 162,815 $28,533,456 $175.25
176 74178 Abdomen and Pelvis CT With and Without Contrast 529,126 613,013 $107,310,216 $175.05
54 43239 Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy With Tissue Sampling 1,323,311 1,916,946 $335,214,244 $174.87
12 99285 Emergency Visit, Highest Urgency 6,638,375 11,282,140 $1,938,104,265 $171.79
515 01922 — 115,695 174,459 $29,722,319 $170.37
114 70553 Brain MRI With and Without Contrast 837,406 1,016,640 $171,001,544 $168.20
400 00300 — 160,459 250,243 $41,220,684 $164.72
88 99306 Initial Nursing Facility Care, Level 3 1,052,930 1,367,844 $225,090,951 $164.56
223 99350 Established Patient Home or Residence Visit, Level 4 141,829 486,139 $79,086,366 $162.68
371 77263 — 254,510 275,875 $44,591,529 $161.64
187 93925 Bilateral Lower-Extremity Arterial Duplex Study 547,256 647,549 $101,431,597 $156.64
14 99204 Long New Patient Office Visit 7,693,413 9,520,304 $1,491,192,505 $156.63
436 95819 — 223,131 243,784 $37,870,242 $155.34
292 99495 Transitional Care After Discharge 346,303 383,283 $59,089,501 $154.17
279 43235 — 335,942 419,510 $62,745,270 $149.57
289 84999 — 163,574 396,662 $59,173,774 $149.18
499 63048 — 76,798 210,783 $31,289,453 $148.44
433 17262 — 203,427 258,568 $37,927,488 $146.68
160 17004 Destruction of Multiple Premalignant Skin Lesions 556,125 832,318 $120,875,326 $145.23
382 01480 — 194,528 304,358 $43,710,665 $143.62
369 93978 — 274,192 321,539 $46,142,940 $143.51
512 93975 — 181,363 212,625 $30,375,535 $142.86
528 11602 — 173,995 204,440 $29,021,062 $141.95
60 92004 New Patient Eye Examination, Comprehensive 2,179,449 2,282,725 $322,332,846 $141.21
560 01400 — 138,460 194,499 $26,807,651 $137.83
378 77280 Radiation Treatment Simulation 186,611 319,467 $43,970,382 $137.64
405 27096 — 198,153 297,044 $40,797,682 $137.35
232 90792 Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation With Medical Services 487,745 558,044 $76,625,441 $137.31
261 73221 Upper-Extremity Joint MRI Without Contrast 416,400 508,172 $69,218,531 $136.21
19 99215 Longest Follow-Up Office Visit 5,564,547 9,444,221 $1,284,220,808 $135.98
194 73721 Lower-Extremity Joint MRI Without Contrast 588,937 726,144 $98,663,799 $135.87
24 99222 Hospital Admission Visit 3,543,212 6,983,817 $944,136,354 $135.19
453 01936 — Retired after Q4 2021 141,682 274,843 $36,312,882 $132.12
356 68761 Lacrimal Punctum Closure 156,492 356,895 $47,130,962 $132.06
222 99219 — Retired after Q4 2022 548,194 608,856 $80,252,454 $131.81
85 96413 Intravenous Antineoplastic Infusion Administration 243,762 1,820,625 $237,853,536 $130.64
142 99305 Initial Nursing Facility Care, Level 2 831,985 1,051,069 $135,271,756 $128.70
443 95816 Electroencephalography Study 263,813 290,921 $37,255,844 $128.06
125 99310 Subsequent Nursing Facility Care, Level 4 501,521 1,257,408 $157,709,621 $125.42
74 00810 — Retired after Q4 2017 1,681,033 2,225,540 $276,679,955 $124.32
109 72148 Lumbar Spine MRI Without Contrast 1,255,960 1,432,489 $177,615,502 $123.99
144 99349 Established Patient Home or Residence Visit, Level 3 276,157 1,091,351 $133,204,273 $122.05
298 36556 — 397,386 474,791 $57,838,424 $121.82
472 93312 — 245,868 282,497 $34,236,834 $121.19
342 00400 — 260,574 416,608 $50,109,436 $120.28
13 92014 Full Eye Exam, Returning Patient 9,359,166 11,855,482 $1,419,477,130 $119.73
447 01992 — 144,534 308,471 $36,638,438 $118.77
252 72141 Cervical Spine MRI Without Contrast 552,744 619,421 $73,369,317 $118.45
26 93306 Heart Ultrasound 6,183,439 7,247,580 $857,037,718 $118.25
182 90791 Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation 791,830 885,765 $104,479,355 $117.95
94 00740 — Retired after Q4 2017 1,123,872 1,794,211 $210,395,876 $117.26
423 64636 — 130,330 339,883 $39,473,616 $116.14
30 99284 Emergency Visit, High Urgency 4,111,641 5,875,904 $670,408,280 $114.09
69 93880 Carotid Artery Duplex Study 2,346,704 2,611,097 $297,251,549 $113.84
62 74177 Abdomen and Pelvis CT With Contrast 2,117,887 2,791,741 $313,498,634 $112.30
489 31500 — 245,135 281,300 $31,274,247 $111.18
167 92235 — 452,131 1,057,116 $116,634,570 $110.33
334 99292 — 247,709 474,816 $52,224,606 $109.99
358 10060 — 372,497 431,136 $46,983,199 $108.98
282 99183 — 24,747 579,609 $62,736,954 $108.24
41 90837 Extended Therapy Session 468,512 4,563,845 $493,209,247 $108.07
270 31575 — 481,707 632,507 $67,764,800 $107.14
43 99239 Extended Hospital Discharge Visit 3,038,297 4,408,661 $464,711,985 $105.41
72 67028 Intravitreal Medication Injection 561,891 2,749,881 $286,772,378 $104.29
91 00142 Anesthesia for Lens Surgery 1,070,118 2,072,620 $215,733,977 $104.09
6 99233 Extended Daily Hospital Visit 3,539,160 22,192,451 $2,293,379,016 $103.34
174 70551 Brain MRI Without Contrast 952,602 1,058,309 $108,035,407 $102.08
15 99203 New Patient Office Visit 8,866,131 10,924,149 $1,113,718,028 $101.95
98 17110 Destruction of Benign Skin Lesions 1,479,856 1,966,126 $200,065,593 $101.76
545 01810 — 180,729 273,234 $27,792,228 $101.72
2 99214 Long Follow-Up Office Visit 26,245,383 95,587,884 $9,664,623,402 $101.11
451 00910 — 211,682 363,683 $36,521,998 $100.42
107 99221 Initial Hospital Care, Level 1 1,349,471 1,812,479 $179,873,400 $99.24
455 70544 — 269,894 286,786 $28,346,478 $98.84
389 99316 — 342,997 375,719 $36,761,679 $97.84
205 71275 Chest CT Angiography 838,647 949,664 $91,019,268 $95.84
514 70496 Head CT Angiography 221,243 237,884 $22,759,524 $95.67
93 74176 Abdomen and Pelvis CT Without Contrast 1,796,067 2,261,958 $215,546,964 $95.29
387 11730 — 324,263 458,499 $42,800,608 $93.35
259 20611 Ultrasound-Guided Major Joint Injection or Aspiration 346,559 779,859 $71,829,306 $92.11
213 88307 Surgical Pathology Examination, Level V 574,968 933,626 $84,816,906 $90.85
406 99304 — 319,885 365,438 $33,151,016 $90.72
418 64494 — 276,373 438,133 $39,651,582 $90.50
437 76641 — 284,411 428,478 $37,692,030 $87.97
470 88173 — 260,881 360,759 $31,672,977 $87.80
543 70491 — 206,531 253,653 $22,108,788 $87.16
319 93923 — 445,197 528,685 $45,491,071 $86.05
121 93970 Bilateral Extremity Venous Duplex Study 1,412,019 1,714,652 $146,345,615 $85.35
27 99309 Extended Nursing Home Visit 1,820,645 8,671,235 $739,152,253 $85.24
488 70498 Neck CT Angiography 246,414 262,603 $22,337,999 $85.06
35 92012 Established Patient Eye Examination, Intermediate 3,680,821 6,617,157 $556,931,571 $84.16
381 93224 — 356,661 382,416 $32,167,180 $84.12
341 76830 — 414,589 477,038 $39,788,306 $83.41
235 95886 Needle Electromyography Study 533,554 916,495 $75,958,163 $82.88
384 99348 Established Patient Home or Residence Visit, Level 2 197,068 524,284 $43,165,873 $82.33
145 11042 Subcutaneous Tissue Wound Debridement 429,593 1,634,265 $131,181,849 $80.27
367 90836 — 113,531 576,577 $46,197,720 $80.12
513 92002 — 222,277 224,597 $17,333,086 $77.17
509 64484 — 226,310 409,690 $30,630,839 $74.77
76 92250 Fundus Photography 2,478,344 2,970,467 $221,488,877 $74.56
47 90834 Standard Therapy Session 624,981 5,407,062 $400,600,390 $74.09
307 96401 Subcutaneous or Intramuscular Antineoplastic Injection Administration 154,496 766,820 $56,734,774 $73.99
215 90935 — 210,468 1,165,007 $83,834,065 $71.96
462 78306 — 263,843 300,770 $21,628,987 $71.91
321 76856 — 445,101 525,158 $37,729,230 $71.84
118 71250 Chest CT Without Contrast 1,498,889 1,907,128 $136,459,570 $71.55
4 99232 Daily Hospital Visit 4,956,288 49,161,851 $3,505,050,483 $71.30
75 99238 Hospital Discharge Visit 2,532,139 3,472,154 $247,357,086 $71.24
430 88331 — 291,652 527,739 $37,509,562 $71.08
229 76536 Neck Soft-Tissue Ultrasound 733,455 854,515 $60,596,147 $70.91
184 76700 Complete Abdominal Ultrasound 948,248 1,080,246 $76,545,991 $70.86
129 71260 Chest CT With Contrast 1,323,134 1,808,126 $127,843,973 $70.71
383 99225 — Retired after Q4 2022 355,552 521,773 $36,750,615 $70.43
159 99217 — Retired after Q4 2022 1,148,909 1,303,950 $91,710,766 $70.33
467 99315 — 261,593 283,593 $19,550,256 $68.94
63 99202 New Patient Office Visit, Level 2 2,794,404 2,954,934 $203,176,329 $68.76
211 96365 Intravenous Therapeutic Infusion Administration 282,379 1,257,011 $86,312,059 $68.66
171 93015 Complete Cardiovascular Stress Test 1,051,002 1,083,797 $73,885,564 $68.17
1 99213 Routine Follow-Up Office Visit 26,695,386 99,688,218 $6,779,754,007 $68.01
484 77002 — 247,657 443,251 $29,673,604 $66.95
28 99308 Nursing Home Visit 2,059,766 11,041,977 $718,435,411 $65.06
516 73700 — 220,465 248,995 $15,893,813 $63.83
537 96417 — 83,720 467,559 $28,528,085 $61.01
225 90833 Psychotherapy With Evaluation and Management 356,321 1,289,709 $78,530,723 $60.89
78 92083 Comprehensive Visual Field Examination 2,458,015 2,871,117 $173,994,682 $60.60
195 88312 Special Stain for Microorganisms 911,895 1,602,200 $96,776,760 $60.40
312 70486 — 462,846 505,449 $30,361,145 $60.07
351 72131 Lumbar Spine CT Without Contrast 398,057 439,599 $26,398,221 $60.05
71 99283 Emergency Department Visit, Level 3 2,573,611 3,502,417 $207,411,604 $59.22
157 76770 Complete Retroperitoneal Ultrasound 1,151,363 1,327,547 $78,348,948 $59.02
263 93922 — 578,185 705,006 $41,473,400 $58.83
181 88185 — 76,175 1,803,813 $106,023,842 $58.78
57 20610 Major Joint Injection or Aspiration 2,772,093 5,652,582 $328,500,592 $58.12
175 92136 Ophthalmic Biometry for Intraocular Lens Planning 1,028,351 1,711,415 $99,141,026 $57.93
170 11056 Paring of Multiple Benign Foot Lesions 811,686 1,968,639 $113,609,662 $57.71
150 90832 Brief Therapy Session 377,962 2,231,217 $128,669,506 $57.67
500 76519 — 237,144 372,893 $21,009,139 $56.34
559 78582 — 200,061 213,413 $11,858,326 $55.57
302 97597 — 342,680 1,039,579 $56,805,021 $54.64
198 72125 Cervical Spine CT Without Contrast 903,135 1,031,166 $56,266,442 $54.57
300 20550 — 486,983 790,654 $41,639,971 $52.67
135 88342 Immunohistochemistry Study, Initial Antibody 1,294,010 1,922,774 $100,900,473 $52.48
46 17000 Precancerous Skin Spot Removal 3,705,022 5,496,806 $285,741,663 $51.98
293 36620 — 504,130 558,734 $28,893,212 $51.71
264 76642 Limited Breast Ultrasound 576,125 722,398 $37,211,380 $51.51
286 98942 — 148,746 1,198,737 $61,382,970 $51.21
22 88305 Biopsy Tissue Examination 7,527,448 19,010,065 $949,301,315 $49.94
124 93971 Unilateral Extremity Venous Duplex Study 1,387,030 1,762,080 $86,289,877 $48.97
546 94620 — Retired after Q4 2017 205,312 251,431 $12,055,856 $47.95
460 77003 — 268,763 380,835 $17,831,247 $46.82
507 20552 — 226,414 355,102 $16,598,501 $46.74
177 94060 Bronchodilator Responsiveness Testing 1,017,011 1,220,549 $56,345,411 $46.16
203 76942 — 880,225 1,178,188 $54,337,873 $46.12
306 11055 — 479,450 901,979 $41,493,589 $46.00
149 69210 Impacted Earwax Removal 1,215,377 1,539,273 $70,747,818 $45.96
558 83698 — 200,617 262,088 $11,857,836 $45.24
265 77300 — 247,019 1,540,061 $69,042,889 $44.83
260 83880 Natriuretic Peptide Test 607,387 925,874 $41,290,647 $44.60
401 20605 — 326,249 463,865 $20,612,604 $44.44
477 87624 — 256,049 263,162 $11,676,334 $44.37
68 92134 Retina Scan 2,589,374 5,876,096 $255,209,586 $43.43
59 11721 Debridement of Multiple Nails 2,811,676 7,490,699 $323,651,161 $43.21
148 99307 Subsequent Nursing Facility Care, Level 1 962,277 3,049,285 $130,070,529 $42.66
45 70450 Head CT Without Contrast 3,796,305 5,631,536 $234,107,392 $41.57
475 20600 — 258,428 395,923 $16,434,127 $41.51
83 92133 Optic Nerve Imaging by Optical Coherence Tomography 2,196,602 2,463,188 $102,149,903 $41.47
377 83704 — 362,992 501,760 $20,703,655 $41.26
20 99212 Brief Follow-Up Office Visit 7,998,586 14,739,739 $597,592,425 $40.54
413 99490 Chronic Care Management 291,992 996,115 $40,001,795 $40.16
239 88112 Cytopathology Examination 700,851 1,091,343 $43,756,802 $40.09
392 99282 — 342,802 399,769 $15,748,873 $39.39
256 76775 — 612,451 697,849 $27,353,510 $39.20
530 93308 — 212,043 254,944 $9,952,500 $39.04
40 98941 Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation, Multiple Regions 1,397,183 13,251,083 $515,736,193 $38.92
34 82306 Vitamin D Blood Test 4,527,562 6,224,235 $241,869,971 $38.86
164 77063 3D Screening Mammogram 1,086,617 1,119,587 $42,901,312 $38.32
52 99231 Subsequent Hospital Care, Level 1 2,174,062 9,111,188 $346,358,359 $38.01
191 76705 Limited Abdominal Ultrasound 925,055 1,066,018 $39,993,061 $37.52
554 88108 — 201,603 289,495 $10,849,504 $37.48
168 92557 Comprehensive Hearing Assessment 1,057,583 1,149,454 $42,442,268 $36.92
224 88313 Special Histochemical Stain 770,990 1,706,777 $62,802,869 $36.80
185 94729 Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity Test 948,192 1,036,553 $35,547,626 $34.29
237 84403 Total Testosterone Test 708,890 1,059,851 $36,077,597 $34.04
498 88175 — 241,249 252,805 $8,597,913 $34.01
525 84402 — 216,914 292,922 $9,856,707 $33.65
320 97113 — 69,064 1,641,372 $54,585,724 $33.26
394 94727 — 334,211 360,874 $11,903,900 $32.99
268 94726 Pulmonary Lung Volume Study 570,106 615,052 $20,092,928 $32.67
200 11720 Debridement of Nails 886,973 2,116,651 $66,918,846 $31.62
66 97530 Daily-Activity Therapy 782,795 9,557,463 $299,852,838 $31.37
424 74230 — 298,201 354,507 $10,905,419 $30.76
280 92225 — Retired after Q4 2019 524,977 879,348 $26,738,825 $30.41
190 94010 Spirometry 927,236 1,268,486 $38,185,383 $30.10
70 97112 Balance and Coordination Therapy 888,218 9,837,949 $293,199,912 $29.80
461 97535 Self-Care and Home Management Training 264,620 1,144,128 $33,966,726 $29.69
339 96367 — 169,398 1,722,264 $50,959,577 $29.59
207 72110 Multi-View Lumbar Spine Radiograph 844,283 935,945 $27,561,612 $29.45
210 92226 — Retired after Q4 2019 839,406 2,257,787 $66,015,089 $29.24
410 93320 — 316,064 342,456 $9,674,136 $28.25
456 94762 — 269,432 300,259 $8,276,945 $27.57
452 73565 — 273,021 313,506 $8,546,810 $27.26
117 98940 Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation 843,796 6,226,895 $169,194,446 $27.17
360 72050 — 390,781 428,444 $11,519,835 $26.89
227 92020 Gonioscopy 767,486 874,301 $23,464,813 $26.84
17 97110 Physical Therapy Exercises 2,364,765 49,002,868 $1,313,771,337 $26.81
179 73564 Complete Knee Radiograph Study 1,004,806 1,353,136 $35,922,447 $26.55
379 93227 — 356,709 391,658 $10,316,494 $26.34
84 77080 Central Bone Density Study 2,186,217 2,268,619 $58,192,429 $25.65
366 86334 Immunofixation Electrophoresis 386,541 601,841 $15,266,755 $25.37
442 82378 — 278,793 606,644 $15,293,819 $25.21
439 84154 — 283,828 353,622 $8,643,979 $24.44
80 84153 Prostate-Specific Antigen Test 2,272,098 3,241,641 $79,148,634 $24.42
61 96372 Therapeutic Injection Administration 2,803,144 9,164,588 $216,653,919 $23.64
112 73562 Knee Radiograph 1,547,268 2,244,660 $52,721,726 $23.49
36 97140 Hands-On Physical Therapy 1,741,551 23,110,235 $537,554,089 $23.26
510 86235 — 225,810 1,169,676 $27,005,781 $23.09
399 90471 — 326,940 352,824 $7,957,118 $22.55
408 83090 — 316,788 409,854 $9,206,387 $22.46
11 84443 Thyroid Blood Test 9,998,957 15,107,393 $337,079,429 $22.31
397 97116 Gait Training 214,954 1,879,690 $41,458,449 $22.06
395 83861 — 331,261 841,167 $18,471,755 $21.96
536 83921 — 209,760 519,809 $11,383,505 $21.90
390 77001 — 342,957 433,300 $9,468,332 $21.85
495 96375 — 180,650 1,467,388 $31,866,149 $21.72
162 93016 Cardiovascular Stress Test Supervision 1,097,596 1,130,949 $24,502,230 $21.67
217 84481 Free Triiodothyronine Test 822,247 1,186,101 $25,674,291 $21.65
492 92550 — 244,601 264,209 $5,647,975 $21.38
106 72100 Lumbar Spine Radiograph 1,622,089 2,023,264 $42,688,734 $21.10
301 73620 — 484,405 721,450 $15,111,014 $20.95
542 86800 — 207,555 265,223 $5,546,396 $20.91
347 82274 — 405,146 437,568 $9,045,336 $20.67
240 73110 Wrist Radiograph 687,774 1,033,583 $21,296,791 $20.60
533 73100 — 210,397 339,784 $6,972,736 $20.52
272 72040 — 537,788 668,698 $13,605,740 $20.35
435 73140 — 285,656 377,817 $7,609,310 $20.14
58 82607 Vitamin B12 Laboratory Test 2,985,954 3,928,683 $78,744,372 $20.04
103 73630 Foot Radiograph 1,686,286 2,614,416 $52,298,682 $20.00
101 82746 Folate Laboratory Test 1,689,055 2,176,240 $42,250,972 $19.41
123 73560 Limited Knee Radiograph Study 1,389,695 2,051,442 $39,392,025 $19.20
445 86376 — 275,704 329,229 $6,320,597 $19.20
201 88304 Surgical Pathology Examination, Level III 882,255 1,061,509 $20,286,458 $19.11
425 72070 — 294,529 338,064 $6,428,251 $19.01
115 99211 Established Patient Office Visit, Level 1 1,523,035 4,853,351 $91,679,156 $18.89
311 86803 — 463,199 550,379 $10,356,240 $18.82
131 51798 Bladder Residual Urine Measurement 1,323,097 2,062,225 $38,487,049 $18.66
95 73030 Shoulder Radiograph 1,875,785 2,613,008 $48,737,144 $18.65
258 84480 — 610,465 849,087 $15,830,030 $18.64
206 73610 Ankle Radiograph 875,120 1,304,203 $24,272,788 $18.61
540 86225 — 207,757 254,769 $4,634,190 $18.19
565 73120 — 193,884 294,417 $5,340,099 $18.14
429 92285 — 291,768 355,611 $6,425,654 $18.07
110 82728 Ferritin Laboratory Test 1,565,604 2,536,822 $45,829,059 $18.07
552 73600 — 202,550 275,327 $4,938,047 $17.94
448 71101 — 274,130 297,990 $5,339,162 $17.92
219 73130 Hand Radiograph 810,332 1,129,764 $20,215,498 $17.89
317 94640 — 449,726 659,405 $11,443,917 $17.35
337 86141 — 415,457 547,284 $9,429,331 $17.23
481 86200 — 250,293 277,664 $4,771,700 $17.19
23 93000 Heart Tracing 7,536,418 11,446,174 $193,833,649 $16.93
333 73500 — Retired after Q4 2015 417,466 546,326 $9,225,975 $16.89
523 71100 — 218,437 244,896 $4,128,697 $16.86
318 74022 — 447,935 556,083 $9,356,389 $16.83
415 73080 — 304,387 372,019 $6,033,637 $16.22
245 84165 Serum Protein Electrophoresis 676,755 1,035,021 $16,670,500 $16.11
242 86038 Antinuclear Antibody Test 687,305 787,913 $12,633,856 $16.03
304 76937 — 482,791 618,273 $9,787,506 $15.83
116 72170 Pelvis Radiograph 1,501,749 1,929,966 $30,387,302 $15.74
556 72072 — 201,495 216,952 $3,358,719 $15.48
357 87804 Influenza Antigen Test 392,799 706,019 $10,744,014 $15.22
496 83525 — 241,592 336,212 $5,081,749 $15.11
323 87880 Streptococcus Antigen Test 434,615 484,750 $7,299,930 $15.06
422 83516 — 298,583 599,558 $8,664,926 $14.45
243 92567 Tympanometry 681,711 772,160 $10,992,668 $14.24
141 93018 Cardiovascular Stress Test Interpretation 1,266,105 1,310,186 $18,643,990 $14.23
328 76514 — 430,616 459,598 $6,466,455 $14.07
10 80061 Cholesterol Blood Panel 12,472,246 19,284,142 $270,981,697 $14.05
449 73060 — 273,862 370,331 $5,172,519 $13.97
471 87340 — 260,764 282,867 $3,819,210 $13.50
278 88311 — 527,035 647,220 $8,644,951 $13.36
519 99406 — 218,622 325,258 $4,335,785 $13.33
363 73590 — 390,449 517,290 $6,763,835 $13.08
25 83036 Average Blood Sugar Test 7,489,194 13,930,742 $179,163,449 $12.86
353 51741 — 395,299 525,485 $6,630,969 $12.62
233 83721 — 728,876 1,086,041 $13,645,577 $12.56
548 73090 — 204,437 246,320 $3,032,931 $12.31
218 95165 Allergen Immunotherapy Preparation 194,599 6,900,190 $83,127,749 $12.05
51 84439 Free T4 Thyroid Test 3,309,759 4,857,066 $57,889,350 $11.92
250 87070 — 625,848 792,147 $9,070,656 $11.45
127 83550 Iron-Binding Capacity Test 1,348,072 2,110,285 $24,030,633 $11.39
105 87186 Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing 1,625,238 2,863,374 $32,414,725 $11.32
534 83718 — 209,852 318,655 $3,469,886 $10.89
5 80053 Full Metabolic Blood Panel 14,166,283 28,486,889 $309,622,731 $10.87
56 87086 Urine Culture 3,016,591 5,146,472 $55,095,174 $10.71
113 87088 Urine Culture Identification 1,524,968 2,441,928 $25,832,081 $10.58
332 97035 — 424,891 2,790,443 $28,833,297 $10.33
133 87077 Microorganism Identification From Culture 1,316,827 2,079,077 $21,350,421 $10.27
330 11719 — 428,960 1,120,216 $11,467,101 $10.24
291 80069 Renal Function Panel 508,899 1,009,111 $10,307,811 $10.21
7 85025 Blood Cell Count With Differential 13,253,312 29,988,493 $306,211,755 $10.21
39 80048 Basic Metabolic Blood Panel 4,337,343 7,907,969 $75,108,399 $9.50
316 84311 — 451,215 1,107,302 $10,229,083 $9.24
359 83690 — 392,469 491,927 $4,425,306 $9.00
151 84436 Total Thyroxine Test 1,184,690 1,593,230 $14,328,899 $8.99
108 83735 Magnesium Laboratory Test 1,608,709 2,996,825 $26,381,264 $8.80
326 93325 Echocardiographic Color Flow Mapping 433,513 491,030 $4,267,199 $8.69
365 82150 — 390,127 501,961 $4,319,091 $8.60
81 85027 Blood Cell Count 2,258,538 3,603,550 $30,503,167 $8.46
18 93010 Heart Tracing Reading 8,190,422 18,926,170 $159,575,230 $8.43
100 83540 Iron Laboratory Test 1,712,707 2,721,600 $22,895,069 $8.41
254 84479 — 624,200 843,337 $7,087,423 $8.40
370 93005 — 372,896 434,203 $3,487,583 $8.03
368 85730 — 379,256 556,220 $4,425,642 $7.96
284 86431 — 519,374 592,707 $4,471,127 $7.54
140 80076 Hepatic Function Panel 1,270,252 2,013,151 $14,915,832 $7.41
432 93042 — 289,721 517,364 $3,724,107 $7.20
73 82043 Urine Albumin Test 2,547,759 3,379,039 $23,653,526 $7.00
53 82570 Urine Creatinine Test 3,303,886 5,563,091 $37,858,994 $6.81
153 86140 C-Reactive Protein Test 1,160,394 2,014,899 $13,616,894 $6.76
277 95004 — 184,681 10,058,621 $63,092,831 $6.27
494 86592 — 243,962 277,437 $1,569,914 $5.66
458 87205 — 269,360 347,883 $1,902,142 $5.47
64 17003 Additional Premalignant Skin Lesion Destruction 2,776,873 17,582,820 $94,205,740 $5.36
473 85045 — 259,601 358,142 $1,904,258 $5.32
322 82044 — 442,081 574,773 $2,997,575 $5.22
97 85610 Prothrombin Time Test 1,804,591 15,034,179 $78,316,086 $5.21
564 88300 — 194,157 218,753 $1,126,621 $5.15
281 84156 Urine Protein Test 522,874 874,325 $4,252,978 $4.86
147 82550 Creatine Kinase Test 1,254,876 1,929,932 $9,249,244 $4.79
231 85651 — 730,332 1,189,037 $5,572,174 $4.69
549 85007 — 204,042 420,130 $1,884,911 $4.49
434 80051 — 287,131 434,765 $1,935,240 $4.45
285 82270 — 517,882 519,623 $2,222,337 $4.28
38 81001 Urine Test With Microscope Exam 4,487,874 7,210,111 $30,289,603 $4.20
146 81000 — 1,255,738 2,168,828 $9,079,017 $4.19
173 84460 Alanine Aminotransferase Test 1,050,713 2,260,998 $9,344,747 $4.13
186 82947 — 934,120 1,825,679 $7,186,267 $3.94
226 83615 Lactate Dehydrogenase Test 770,183 1,811,580 $7,124,370 $3.93
90 84550 Uric Acid Laboratory Test 2,036,941 3,323,051 $12,121,362 $3.65
139 85652 Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Test 1,275,531 1,976,329 $7,089,837 $3.59
65 81002 Manual Urinalysis 2,649,367 4,182,570 $14,050,033 $3.36
310 82977 — 466,758 828,852 $2,719,764 $3.28
155 82565 Blood Creatinine Test 1,158,101 1,820,064 $5,867,966 $3.22
349 84132 — 401,533 611,377 $1,969,810 $3.22
440 84478 — 283,292 412,842 $1,321,603 $3.20
538 85014 — 208,005 380,290 $1,196,936 $3.15
396 85018 — 329,584 613,400 $1,926,781 $3.14
338 82310 — 415,281 582,200 $1,799,593 $3.09
234 82962 — 726,152 2,014,776 $6,129,585 $3.04
193 84100 Phosphorus Laboratory Test 914,410 1,753,900 $5,304,714 $3.02
42 81003 Automated Urinalysis 4,003,890 6,674,158 $19,868,315 $2.98
505 82465 — 228,371 329,644 $971,472 $2.95
3 36415 Blood Draw 17,695,169 52,238,888 $153,053,113 $2.93
343 84155 — 410,895 559,306 $1,593,339 $2.85
214 84450 — 826,751 1,292,952 $3,173,025 $2.45
196 82248 Direct Bilirubin Test 906,448 1,398,309 $2,938,156 $2.10
388 82040 — 346,159 547,948 $1,120,701 $2.05
247 84520 — 676,517 1,005,506 $2,015,284 $2.00
517 84295 — 218,886 345,600 $645,892 $1.87
465 82247 — 263,799 468,814 $794,133 $1.69
403 84075 — 324,752 484,859 $816,095 $1.68

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 7,751 CPT codes billed to Medicare in CY2015, 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 57.5% of the $77.5B these 500 codes account for.

  1. 1 99214 Long Follow-Up Office Visit $9.7B
  2. 2 99213 Routine Follow-Up Office Visit $6.8B
  3. 3 99232 Daily Hospital Visit $3.5B
  4. 4 99233 Extended Daily Hospital Visit $2.3B
  5. 5 99223 Extended Hospital Admission Visit $2.2B
  6. 6 66984 Cataract Surgery $2.1B
  7. 7 99285 Emergency Visit, Highest Urgency $1.9B
  8. 8 99204 Long New Patient Office Visit $1.5B
  9. 9 92014 Full Eye Exam, Returning Patient $1.4B
  10. 10 97110 Physical Therapy Exercises $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
#127
By allowed dollars
#480
Per service
$2.10
Few patients, lots of money
37227 Leg Artery Plaque Removal With Stent
By beneficiaries
#489
By allowed dollars
#86
Per service
$8,276.51

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

These are CY2015 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.

21 codes on this list have since left the fee schedule. They were billed heavily in CY2015 before CMS deleted them, so their links point at the last quarter that priced them rather than at a page that no longer exists.

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 7,751 CPT codes billed to Medicare in CY2015; this table shows the top 500 we cover.

Source: CMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners—by Geography and Service, national rows, CY2015. 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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