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Medicare's 500 most-billed CPT codes of 2016

In CY2016 Medicare paid $79.2B across these 500 CPT codes. 99214 (Long Follow-Up Office Visit) leads every measure: 26.4M beneficiaries and $10.0B 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
$79.2B
Total Medicare allowed dollars
Services
1.3B
Times these codes were billed
Top 25
57.2%
Share of the allowed dollars
Vintage
CY2016
Medicare fee-for-service only

All 500 codes, ranked Copy link

Sorted by overall rank. 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
1 99214 Long Follow-Up Office Visit 26,427,226 99,907,807 $10,001,554,051 $100.11
2 99213 Routine Follow-Up Office Visit 26,367,160 99,725,114 $6,766,071,321 $67.85
3 36415 Blood Draw 17,744,642 51,485,177 $150,857,951 $2.93
4 99232 Daily Hospital Visit 4,918,652 48,607,777 $3,430,989,705 $70.59
5 80053 Full Metabolic Blood Panel 14,379,545 29,001,293 $315,472,215 $10.88
6 99233 Extended Daily Hospital Visit 3,559,991 22,498,697 $2,306,007,709 $102.50
7 66984 Cataract Surgery 1,285,564 8,905,534 $2,188,407,141 $245.74
8 85025 Blood Cell Count With Differential 13,354,408 30,135,201 $307,889,483 $10.22
9 80061 Cholesterol Blood Panel 12,654,677 19,499,905 $275,842,942 $14.15
10 99223 Extended Hospital Admission Visit 4,454,285 10,761,215 $2,140,286,301 $198.89
11 84443 Thyroid Blood Test 10,060,813 15,213,532 $339,779,388 $22.33
12 99285 Emergency Visit, Highest Urgency 6,804,846 11,657,719 $1,993,725,000 $171.02
13 92014 Full Eye Exam, Returning Patient 9,534,836 12,134,991 $1,452,887,348 $119.73
14 99204 Long New Patient Office Visit 7,979,437 9,984,532 $1,554,191,439 $155.66
15 99203 New Patient Office Visit 9,061,583 11,271,207 $1,137,706,730 $100.94
16 93010 Heart Tracing Reading 8,506,983 19,344,927 $162,623,669 $8.41
17 97110 Physical Therapy Exercises 2,530,486 53,067,010 $1,415,207,638 $26.67
19 99215 Longest Follow-Up Office Visit 5,701,797 9,795,589 $1,315,621,843 $134.31
20 99291 Critical Care 1,767,609 5,471,151 $1,213,351,444 $221.77
21 83036 Average Blood Sugar Test 7,813,177 14,475,924 $186,308,069 $12.87
22 88305 Biopsy Tissue Examination 7,751,548 19,703,918 $1,000,764,932 $50.79
23 93000 Heart Tracing 7,695,030 11,751,138 $198,113,406 $16.86
24 99222 Hospital Admission Visit 3,519,349 6,941,935 $931,463,590 $134.18
25 93306 Heart Ultrasound 6,354,158 7,422,692 $873,615,145 $117.70
26 99212 Brief Follow-Up Office Visit 7,638,672 13,874,699 $552,521,509 $39.82
27 99309 Extended Nursing Home Visit 1,828,599 8,822,813 $747,594,508 $84.73
28 99308 Nursing Home Visit 2,021,498 10,862,912 $707,749,079 $65.15
30 99284 Emergency Visit, High Urgency 4,140,479 5,894,029 $669,751,244 $113.63
31 90960 Monthly Dialysis Care, Frequent Visits 306,343 2,261,851 $633,478,968 $280.07
33 97140 Hands-On Physical Therapy 1,883,851 25,196,507 $582,999,813 $23.14
34 92012 Established Patient Eye Examination, Intermediate 3,729,257 6,746,780 $565,832,223 $83.87
35 82306 Vitamin D Blood Test 4,696,808 6,447,499 $250,615,437 $38.87
36 99205 Longest New Patient Office Visit 2,580,902 2,904,289 $564,987,429 $194.54
37 81001 Urine Test With Microscope Exam 4,537,808 7,278,995 $30,655,475 $4.21
38 90837 Extended Therapy Session 512,990 5,154,175 $555,955,101 $107.87
39 78452 Myocardial Perfusion Imaging 1,954,456 2,048,786 $527,941,061 $257.68
40 80048 Basic Metabolic Blood Panel 4,283,928 7,755,161 $73,879,194 $9.53
41 98941 Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation, Multiple Regions 1,394,645 13,249,867 $512,432,113 $38.67
42 81003 Automated Urinalysis 3,883,318 6,275,682 $18,682,631 $2.98
43 99239 Extended Hospital Discharge Visit 3,145,148 4,596,060 $480,657,964 $104.58
44 27447 Knee Replacement 280,557 475,766 $430,252,504 $904.34
45 70450 Head CT Without Contrast 3,880,535 5,775,702 $240,624,115 $41.66
46 17000 Precancerous Skin Spot Removal 3,852,136 5,718,790 $296,658,057 $51.87
47 90834 Standard Therapy Session 628,056 5,370,250 $396,256,907 $73.79
48 17311 Mohs Skin Cancer Surgery, First Stage 551,033 733,116 $392,123,720 $534.87
49 45385 Colonoscopy With Polyp Removal 838,890 1,222,606 $379,488,435 $310.39
50 84439 Free T4 Thyroid Test 3,419,244 5,039,579 $60,118,819 $11.93
51 97530 Daily-Activity Therapy 878,536 10,860,755 $339,555,645 $31.26
52 43239 Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy With Tissue Sampling 1,368,321 1,989,360 $339,456,631 $170.64
53 87086 Urine Culture 3,070,464 5,236,646 $56,113,657 $10.72
54 97112 Balance and Coordination Therapy 996,975 11,284,927 $338,915,013 $30.03
55 20610 Major Joint Injection or Aspiration 2,857,890 5,846,725 $338,855,885 $57.96
56 82607 Vitamin B12 Laboratory Test 3,034,098 3,985,901 $80,009,303 $20.07
57 78815 PET/CT Scan, Skull Base to Thigh 438,003 622,311 $336,528,766 $540.77
58 82570 Urine Creatinine Test 3,033,720 4,591,986 $31,306,229 $6.82
59 74177 Abdomen and Pelvis CT With Contrast 2,259,727 2,989,844 $334,302,869 $111.81
60 96372 Therapeutic Injection Administration 2,895,494 9,439,135 $221,771,902 $23.49
61 17003 Additional Premalignant Skin Lesion Destruction 2,889,771 18,353,119 $97,760,169 $5.33
62 99231 Subsequent Hospital Care, Level 1 2,084,165 8,554,030 $326,108,067 $38.12
63 92004 New Patient Eye Examination, Comprehensive 2,192,311 2,297,828 $324,803,489 $141.35
64 45380 Colonoscopy With Tissue Sampling 1,025,603 1,468,721 $320,327,798 $218.10
65 92134 Retina Scan 2,812,024 6,409,497 $277,790,025 $43.34
66 11721 Debridement of Multiple Nails 2,730,042 7,360,840 $316,896,416 $43.05
67 99202 New Patient Office Visit, Level 2 2,711,869 2,867,969 $195,971,257 $68.33
69 67028 Intravitreal Medication Injection 599,550 2,970,122 $312,391,086 $105.18
70 82043 Urine Albumin Test 2,667,073 3,535,302 $24,636,722 $6.97
71 92250 Fundus Photography 2,612,943 3,111,330 $231,114,049 $74.28
72 81002 Manual Urinalysis 2,586,403 4,029,856 $13,536,325 $3.36
73 00810 — Retired after Q4 2017 1,834,364 2,445,931 $294,001,995 $120.20
74 93880 Carotid Artery Duplex Study 2,291,792 2,543,930 $280,727,338 $110.35
75 92083 Comprehensive Visual Field Examination 2,520,722 2,949,015 $177,751,062 $60.27
76 99283 Emergency Department Visit, Level 3 2,511,108 3,398,384 $200,707,871 $59.06
77 66821 Laser Treatment of the Posterior Lens Capsule 526,291 1,352,346 $264,983,235 $195.94
78 99238 Hospital Discharge Visit 2,403,940 3,267,550 $229,320,064 $70.18
80 92133 Optic Nerve Imaging by Optical Coherence Tomography 2,300,774 2,588,682 $106,784,546 $41.25
82 77080 Central Bone Density Study 2,293,973 2,383,700 $59,596,678 $25.00
83 99220 — Retired after Q4 2022 1,154,518 1,360,120 $244,756,361 $179.95
84 96413 Intravenous Antineoplastic Infusion Administration 246,502 1,861,460 $243,283,097 $130.69
85 85027 Blood Cell Count 2,274,207 3,532,602 $29,944,791 $8.48
86 64483 Lumbar or Sacral Transforaminal Epidural Injection 490,096 1,114,081 $236,465,967 $212.25
87 84153 Prostate-Specific Antigen Test 2,261,258 3,220,556 $78,730,982 $24.45
88 74176 Abdomen and Pelvis CT Without Contrast 1,860,858 2,350,583 $223,246,888 $94.98
89 99306 Initial Nursing Facility Care, Level 3 1,046,627 1,366,123 $222,829,775 $163.11
90 84550 Uric Acid Laboratory Test 2,006,297 3,288,595 $12,131,136 $3.69
91 27130 Total Hip Arthroplasty 146,441 244,597 $221,027,873 $903.64
92 73502 Hip and Pelvis Radiograph 1,965,820 2,715,223 $60,880,745 $22.42
93 66982 Complex Cataract Surgery With Lens Implant 153,206 590,854 $220,381,238 $372.99
94 77063 3D Screening Mammogram 1,955,089 2,019,708 $77,007,107 $38.13
95 17110 Destruction of Benign Skin Lesions 1,606,107 2,140,586 $217,304,027 $101.52
96 00740 — Retired after Q4 2017 1,180,033 1,902,488 $215,074,552 $113.05
97 73030 Shoulder Radiograph 1,942,540 2,711,753 $50,010,373 $18.44
98 00142 Anesthesia for Lens Surgery 1,094,037 2,137,683 $214,987,059 $100.57
99 77427 Radiation Treatment Management 248,634 1,097,789 $200,864,324 $182.97
100 83540 Iron Laboratory Test 1,768,829 2,828,075 $23,950,097 $8.47
101 37225 Leg Artery Plaque Removal With Balloon Widening Retired after Q4 2025 31,581 37,732 $188,610,489 $4,998.69
102 73630 Foot Radiograph 1,753,544 2,734,292 $54,360,431 $19.88
103 52000 Diagnostic Cystoscopy 753,857 995,484 $187,578,373 $188.43
104 82746 Folate Laboratory Test 1,701,750 2,195,684 $42,724,880 $19.46
105 83735 Magnesium Laboratory Test 1,693,250 3,157,292 $27,877,155 $8.83
106 93229 Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Analysis 189,683 195,627 $186,473,138 $953.21
107 85610 Prothrombin Time Test 1,658,247 13,391,674 $69,876,663 $5.22
108 17312 Mohs Surgery, Additional Stage 294,739 494,869 $185,443,474 $374.73
109 72100 Lumbar Spine Radiograph 1,643,595 2,052,519 $42,806,439 $20.86
110 73562 Knee Radiograph 1,641,629 2,388,834 $57,589,756 $24.11
111 99221 Initial Hospital Care, Level 1 1,382,953 1,869,689 $184,049,570 $98.44
112 72148 Lumbar Spine MRI Without Contrast 1,296,231 1,486,152 $181,530,954 $122.15
113 87186 Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing 1,633,776 2,884,291 $32,694,157 $11.34
114 71250 Chest CT Without Contrast 1,633,416 2,078,933 $145,581,461 $70.03
115 82728 Ferritin Laboratory Test 1,631,377 2,661,932 $48,150,411 $18.09
116 70553 Brain MRI With and Without Contrast 853,641 1,038,337 $175,858,464 $169.37
118 87088 Urine Culture Identification 1,510,034 2,396,184 $25,362,195 $10.58
119 93971 Unilateral Extremity Venous Duplex Study 1,420,771 1,814,262 $89,937,587 $49.57
120 98940 Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation 848,413 6,357,600 $173,172,100 $27.24
121 90961 Monthly Dialysis Care, Fewer Visits 234,174 722,518 $169,122,392 $234.07
122 99211 Established Patient Office Visit, Level 1 1,414,697 4,364,147 $81,989,008 $18.79
123 36475 Radiofrequency Treatment of an Incompetent Extremity Vein 65,323 118,643 $168,534,344 $1,420.52
124 93970 Bilateral Extremity Venous Duplex Study 1,408,738 1,703,423 $143,707,710 $84.36
125 37227 Leg Artery Plaque Removal With Stent Retired after Q4 2025 16,103 19,178 $167,889,217 $8,754.26
126 83550 Iron-Binding Capacity Test 1,406,510 2,217,331 $25,273,476 $11.40
127 64493 Lumbar or Sacral Facet Joint Injection 335,341 727,633 $163,979,372 $225.36
128 73560 Limited Knee Radiograph Study 1,388,547 2,039,426 $39,548,071 $19.39
130 51798 Bladder Residual Urine Measurement 1,361,628 2,111,659 $40,009,777 $18.95
131 99310 Subsequent Nursing Facility Care, Level 4 523,414 1,285,897 $159,917,505 $124.36
132 71260 Chest CT With Contrast 1,356,211 1,855,976 $130,776,207 $70.46
133 88342 Immunohistochemistry Study, Initial Antibody 1,349,450 1,985,208 $115,573,985 $58.22
134 87077 Microorganism Identification From Culture 1,327,478 2,104,816 $21,546,775 $10.24
135 93458 Coronary Angiography and Left Heart Catheterization 501,766 525,366 $145,500,472 $276.95
136 45378 Diagnostic Colonoscopy 472,039 594,898 $145,457,006 $244.51
138 85652 Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Test 1,291,659 2,027,256 $7,273,456 $3.59
139 92928 Coronary Artery Stent Procedure 205,041 251,258 $140,942,241 $560.95
140 64635 Lumbar or Sacral Facet Nerve Ablation 163,100 327,659 $140,625,635 $429.18
141 37229 Leg Artery Plaque Removal Retired after Q4 2025 21,924 28,129 $137,852,408 $4,900.72
142 93018 Cardiovascular Stress Test Interpretation 1,283,865 1,325,479 $18,801,192 $14.18
143 99217 — Retired after Q4 2022 1,226,495 1,398,945 $97,973,056 $70.03
144 99305 Initial Nursing Facility Care, Level 2 850,678 1,079,564 $137,564,940 $127.43
145 11042 Subcutaneous Tissue Wound Debridement 449,139 1,740,408 $137,172,599 $78.82
146 69210 Impacted Earwax Removal 1,209,173 1,548,850 $70,373,400 $45.44
147 86140 C-Reactive Protein Test 1,204,071 2,086,153 $14,135,700 $6.78
148 99349 Established Patient Home or Residence Visit, Level 3 283,658 1,131,377 $136,775,497 $120.89
150 80076 Hepatic Function Panel 1,196,029 1,913,339 $14,140,443 $7.39
152 76770 Complete Retroperitoneal Ultrasound 1,191,969 1,380,186 $82,136,816 $59.51
153 63685 Spinal Cord Stimulator Battery Placement 20,590 31,038 $133,078,374 $4,287.60
154 82550 Creatine Kinase Test 1,188,364 1,823,592 $8,807,410 $4.83
155 90832 Brief Therapy Session 389,275 2,307,085 $131,942,618 $57.19
156 82565 Blood Creatinine Test 1,139,581 1,792,809 $5,865,952 $3.27
157 95811 — 355,979 414,521 $130,242,571 $314.20
158 78492 Cardiac PET Scan, Multiple Studies 119,853 130,630 $126,982,768 $972.08
159 81000 — 1,139,200 1,967,358 $8,257,109 $4.20
160 17004 Destruction of Multiple Premalignant Skin Lesions 577,332 869,936 $125,988,841 $144.83
161 84436 Total Thyroxine Test 1,118,873 1,506,555 $13,553,073 $9.00
162 29827 Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair 65,292 120,175 $124,581,954 $1,036.67
163 93016 Cardiovascular Stress Test Supervision 1,110,848 1,142,824 $24,667,976 $21.59
164 99307 Subsequent Nursing Facility Care, Level 1 931,547 2,909,569 $123,973,655 $42.61
165 77301 Intensity-Modulated Radiation Treatment Planning 109,918 121,879 $121,676,053 $998.33
166 92557 Comprehensive Hearing Assessment 1,086,500 1,180,329 $43,804,609 $37.11
168 92136 Ophthalmic Biometry for Intraocular Lens Planning 1,077,256 1,791,828 $103,915,064 $57.99
169 33533 Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting 64,290 103,922 $118,583,149 $1,141.08
170 73564 Complete Knee Radiograph Study 1,073,148 1,446,589 $37,843,574 $26.16
171 00790 Anesthesia for Upper Abdominal Surgery 325,954 480,569 $117,841,253 $245.21
172 93015 Complete Cardiovascular Stress Test 1,046,439 1,079,201 $73,497,173 $68.10
173 92235 — 450,494 1,041,621 $114,829,021 $110.24
174 70551 Brain MRI Without Contrast 1,013,497 1,128,272 $114,416,939 $101.41
175 94060 Bronchodilator Responsiveness Testing 1,025,098 1,221,060 $55,601,759 $45.54
176 11056 Paring of Multiple Benign Foot Lesions 805,999 2,011,687 $114,126,990 $56.73
178 31231 Diagnostic Nasal Endoscopy 385,799 559,453 $111,703,739 $199.67
179 94729 Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity Test 987,055 1,077,476 $36,488,613 $33.86
180 01402 Anesthesia for Knee Arthroplasty 303,627 458,359 $110,862,811 $241.87
181 72125 Cervical Spine CT Without Contrast 978,991 1,120,714 $60,933,841 $54.37
182 76705 Limited Abdominal Ultrasound 961,448 1,113,270 $41,258,955 $37.06
183 84460 Alanine Aminotransferase Test 948,129 1,784,255 $6,549,446 $3.67
184 90791 Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation 807,445 903,706 $106,524,298 $117.87
185 76700 Complete Abdominal Ultrasound 946,901 1,081,118 $76,793,432 $71.03
187 74178 Abdomen and Pelvis CT With and Without Contrast 520,330 602,939 $105,353,624 $174.73
188 94010 Spirometry 935,231 1,279,016 $37,959,397 $29.68
189 00670 Anesthesia for Spine Surgery 167,435 248,275 $104,662,440 $421.56
190 76942 — 917,840 1,208,046 $54,918,469 $45.46
191 73721 Lower-Extremity Joint MRI Without Contrast 612,572 761,734 $103,515,670 $135.89
193 27245 Surgical Fixation of a Proximal Femur Fracture 80,650 103,616 $103,485,375 $998.74
194 71275 Chest CT Angiography 910,717 1,033,421 $98,299,223 $95.12
195 63047 Lumbar Spine Decompression Surgery 106,237 169,430 $101,490,528 $599.01
197 84100 Phosphorus Laboratory Test 905,809 1,742,754 $5,387,534 $3.09
198 88312 Special Stain for Microorganisms 902,353 1,612,790 $100,479,978 $62.30
199 95810 — 305,325 339,887 $99,791,865 $293.60
200 73610 Ankle Radiograph 894,033 1,329,031 $24,261,307 $18.25
201 99496 Transitional Care After Discharge, Prompt Contact 400,072 458,559 $99,674,480 $217.36
203 82947 — 888,158 1,746,627 $6,843,419 $3.92
204 88304 Surgical Pathology Examination, Level III 882,959 1,061,553 $20,659,516 $19.46
206 82248 Direct Bilirubin Test 880,335 1,351,936 $2,881,721 $2.13
207 11720 Debridement of Nails 879,012 2,131,774 $66,617,349 $31.25
208 36478 — 43,829 85,696 $98,226,500 $1,146.22
209 84481 Free Triiodothyronine Test 877,049 1,274,287 $27,635,911 $21.69
210 99490 Chronic Care Management 564,648 2,442,837 $94,886,273 $38.84
211 73130 Hand Radiograph 851,492 1,197,381 $21,546,217 $17.99
212 95951 — Retired after Q4 2019 55,829 161,526 $90,150,111 $558.12
213 88307 Surgical Pathology Examination, Level V 588,429 970,297 $89,600,537 $92.34
214 88185 — 79,363 1,854,264 $88,691,530 $47.83
215 92226 — Retired after Q4 2019 840,256 2,228,020 $65,041,603 $29.19
216 96365 Intravenous Therapeutic Infusion Administration 285,818 1,274,019 $86,615,136 $67.99
217 72110 Multi-View Lumbar Spine Radiograph 838,574 933,589 $27,669,558 $29.64
218 95165 Allergen Immunotherapy Preparation 199,401 7,180,910 $86,392,293 $12.03
220 93925 Bilateral Lower-Extremity Arterial Duplex Study 545,639 643,397 $86,253,712 $134.06
221 99219 — Retired after Q4 2022 579,053 644,893 $84,329,248 $130.76
222 90935 — 209,583 1,144,747 $82,318,503 $71.91
223 76536 Neck Soft-Tissue Ultrasound 786,368 913,749 $64,306,336 $70.38
224 92020 Gonioscopy 779,037 886,347 $23,639,855 $26.67
225 13132 Complex Skin Wound Repair 238,166 282,164 $80,424,447 $285.03
226 84450 — 768,727 1,201,180 $2,914,430 $2.43
227 72170 Pelvis Radiograph 760,381 876,780 $13,943,893 $15.90
228 90833 Psychotherapy With Evaluation and Management 367,124 1,317,442 $80,218,839 $60.89
229 83615 Lactate Dehydrogenase Test 753,773 1,810,482 $7,301,647 $4.03
230 20611 Ultrasound-Guided Major Joint Injection or Aspiration 381,964 859,317 $78,657,373 $91.53
231 82962 — 731,164 1,909,726 $5,811,766 $3.04
232 47562 — 109,919 133,928 $78,588,734 $586.80
233 88313 Special Histochemical Stain 728,742 1,610,760 $58,473,056 $36.30
235 84403 Total Testosterone Test 719,539 1,082,165 $36,865,151 $34.07
236 72141 Cervical Spine MRI Without Contrast 573,862 645,709 $78,336,991 $121.32
237 73110 Wrist Radiograph 709,497 1,072,224 $21,905,531 $20.43
238 90966 Monthly Home Dialysis Services 48,569 337,730 $77,881,823 $230.60
239 92567 Tympanometry 707,694 799,518 $11,337,926 $14.18
240 88112 Cytopathology Examination 706,660 1,090,814 $47,248,596 $43.31
241 95886 Needle Electromyography Study 545,024 934,799 $77,563,057 $82.97
242 84165 Serum Protein Electrophoresis 703,232 1,102,076 $17,632,073 $16.00
243 85651 — 690,838 1,121,465 $5,269,149 $4.70
244 86038 Antinuclear Antibody Test 687,711 788,843 $12,663,053 $16.05
246 83721 — 682,954 1,010,837 $12,694,044 $12.56
247 23472 Total Shoulder Arthroplasty 48,459 77,598 $76,272,530 $982.92
248 84520 — 649,403 965,281 $1,925,342 $1.99
249 64721 Open Carpal Tunnel Release 103,828 162,614 $75,884,675 $466.66
251 90792 Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation With Medical Services 486,505 557,263 $75,281,970 $135.09
252 99350 Established Patient Home or Residence Visit, Level 4 144,708 461,614 $75,063,911 $162.61
253 83880 Natriuretic Peptide Test 620,805 944,058 $42,175,135 $44.67
254 99495 Transitional Care After Discharge 438,996 490,851 $74,794,206 $152.38
256 87070 — 615,903 775,988 $8,909,866 $11.48
257 22551 Anterior Cervical Spine Fusion 39,519 62,941 $73,787,077 $1,172.32
258 84479 — 597,176 806,019 $6,778,528 $8.41
259 27236 — 58,519 80,020 $72,920,394 $911.28
260 94726 Pulmonary Lung Volume Study 595,766 641,836 $20,709,166 $32.27
262 76775 — 592,573 669,724 $26,351,394 $39.35
263 73221 Upper-Extremity Joint MRI Without Contrast 429,489 524,861 $71,005,763 $135.28
264 84480 — 590,840 822,059 $15,313,406 $18.63
265 95004 — 192,505 10,654,616 $70,758,836 $6.64
266 76642 Limited Breast Ultrasound 586,090 727,814 $36,773,196 $50.53
267 22633 — 35,935 58,844 $70,238,364 $1,193.64
268 31575 — 493,113 645,167 $68,676,814 $106.45
269 93922 — 573,380 694,036 $40,475,437 $58.32
271 99497 Advance Care Planning 573,060 619,506 $50,430,802 $81.40
272 00840 — 192,112 278,883 $64,889,274 $232.68
273 72040 — 554,987 691,779 $13,934,097 $20.14
274 74183 Abdominal MRI With and Without Contrast 238,154 288,057 $64,520,735 $223.99
275 84156 Urine Protein Test 547,687 928,877 $4,527,852 $4.87
276 12032 Intermediate Skin Wound Repair 228,021 255,013 $63,831,782 $250.31
277 29881 — 63,499 92,863 $63,674,149 $685.68
278 88311 — 534,676 675,263 $9,397,005 $13.92
280 43235 — 338,014 422,398 $61,709,479 $146.09
282 86431 — 523,471 598,573 $4,522,477 $7.56
283 22851 — Retired after Q4 2016 87,782 223,285 $61,174,167 $273.97
284 11043 Muscle and Fascia Wound Debridement 112,670 340,293 $61,001,959 $179.26
285 92225 — Retired after Q4 2019 520,733 865,712 $26,350,685 $30.44
286 77300 — 228,877 1,327,654 $60,979,797 $45.93
287 80069 Renal Function Panel 517,841 1,028,361 $10,502,923 $10.21
288 17313 Mohs Surgery on Trunk or Extremities, First Stage 88,903 112,957 $60,523,976 $535.81
289 36870 — Retired after Q4 2016 36,523 59,320 $60,289,354 $1,016.34
290 76937 — 512,842 661,689 $10,376,823 $15.68
291 36620 — 512,355 568,092 $29,287,470 $51.55
293 20550 — 500,431 812,326 $42,161,390 $51.90
294 01214 — 154,521 227,234 $59,179,184 $260.43
295 15260 — 55,439 65,903 $58,662,986 $890.14
296 33208 — 102,819 104,145 $58,561,017 $562.30
297 70486 — 480,612 523,805 $30,993,023 $59.17
298 87880 Streptococcus Antigen Test 474,256 530,425 $7,980,235 $15.04
299 96401 Subcutaneous or Intramuscular Antineoplastic Injection Administration 167,639 784,868 $57,803,967 $73.65
300 97113 — 71,207 1,745,374 $57,784,314 $33.11
301 73620 — 470,483 697,265 $14,498,159 $20.79
302 11055 — 467,813 902,009 $40,686,621 $45.11
303 36556 — 395,522 472,784 $57,289,399 $121.17
304 36561 — 129,681 137,968 $57,174,595 $414.40
306 33405 — 25,390 40,742 $56,944,637 $1,397.69
307 82270 — 461,884 462,928 $1,980,785 $4.28
308 33249 — 48,983 49,728 $56,613,067 $1,138.45
309 76514 — 457,675 488,479 $6,861,154 $14.05
311 93325 Echocardiographic Color Flow Mapping 454,207 519,425 $4,063,769 $7.82
312 77290 — 191,612 253,271 $56,025,945 $221.21
313 94640 — 449,069 638,081 $11,033,199 $17.29
314 99292 — 257,254 508,868 $55,889,172 $109.83
315 86803 — 445,318 486,576 $9,131,259 $18.77
316 76856 — 439,880 516,650 $37,327,957 $72.25
317 67042 — 26,926 44,396 $54,836,977 $1,235.18
318 64490 — 104,871 230,489 $54,357,756 $235.84
319 82044 — 434,029 565,424 $2,959,518 $5.23
321 93923 — 432,083 517,487 $44,524,235 $86.04
324 50590 — 49,893 70,628 $53,416,282 $756.30
325 82977 — 430,729 761,992 $2,625,102 $3.45
326 13121 — 147,908 175,364 $53,305,520 $303.97
327 72131 Lumbar Spine CT Without Contrast 428,315 473,006 $27,710,882 $58.58
328 76830 — 424,026 488,243 $40,610,835 $83.18
329 93351 — 253,734 258,557 $52,738,272 $203.97
330 86141 — 423,403 569,913 $9,827,417 $17.24
331 97597 — 331,502 1,015,681 $52,596,171 $51.78
332 29880 — 48,672 72,704 $52,259,033 $718.79
333 82274 — 418,266 450,110 $9,323,174 $20.71
335 86334 Immunofixation Electrophoresis 413,658 660,896 $16,656,253 $25.20
337 99183 — 22,349 486,003 $51,742,288 $106.46
338 97035 — 404,656 2,651,586 $27,267,196 $10.28
339 98942 — 128,496 1,001,515 $50,843,877 $50.77
340 84155 — 404,304 545,055 $1,575,407 $2.89
341 35301 — 39,939 56,004 $50,154,830 $895.56
342 74022 — 402,949 494,186 $8,514,231 $17.23
343 73590 — 400,826 529,603 $7,011,131 $13.24
344 26055 — 68,819 131,581 $49,879,454 $379.08
345 82310 — 400,511 573,196 $1,775,301 $3.10
346 96367 — 166,538 1,664,423 $49,769,483 $29.90
347 11719 — 397,160 1,058,917 $10,729,650 $10.13
348 68761 Lacrimal Punctum Closure 165,116 368,571 $49,738,635 $134.95
349 72158 — 247,022 282,520 $49,029,244 $173.54
350 83690 — 395,672 495,110 $4,454,922 $9.00
351 00400 — 256,513 410,814 $48,253,941 $117.46
352 99225 — Retired after Q4 2022 392,510 587,604 $41,244,920 $70.19
353 72050 — 390,491 430,300 $11,673,197 $27.13
355 77338 — 110,312 143,077 $46,762,317 $326.83
356 84132 — 389,252 590,724 $1,876,284 $3.18
357 65855 — 108,545 191,863 $46,619,220 $242.98
358 73552 — 381,749 548,874 $8,240,678 $15.01
359 77523 — 1,894 46,008 $46,263,527 $1,005.55
360 77263 — 263,708 285,289 $46,255,883 $162.14
361 82150 — 381,128 489,623 $4,218,713 $8.62
362 51741 — 381,024 499,578 $6,278,847 $12.57
363 64590 Peripheral Nerve Stimulator Battery Placement 11,997 15,145 $45,892,840 $3,030.23
364 10060 — 365,603 423,006 $45,782,762 $108.23
365 93005 — 377,408 436,342 $3,494,781 $8.01
366 77280 Radiation Treatment Simulation 191,326 328,997 $45,700,136 $138.91
368 85730 — 367,710 527,803 $4,205,729 $7.97
369 99348 Established Patient Home or Residence Visit, Level 2 205,523 556,929 $45,355,488 $81.44
370 93978 — 270,170 316,804 $45,338,744 $143.11
371 22514 — 24,292 26,485 $45,113,278 $1,703.35
372 90836 — 113,403 564,190 $45,077,173 $79.90
373 99316 — 364,248 400,535 $39,092,922 $97.60
374 49505 — 61,842 77,484 $44,798,829 $578.17
375 93227 — 363,287 396,154 $10,245,229 $25.86
376 52601 — 47,167 50,046 $44,555,514 $890.29
378 00567 — 52,839 65,814 $44,287,373 $672.92
379 94727 — 344,295 370,641 $12,131,073 $32.73
380 82040 — 344,141 537,950 $1,103,960 $2.05
381 97116 Gait Training 228,516 2,010,525 $44,142,447 $21.96
382 64636 — 148,837 385,130 $44,135,839 $114.60
383 83861 — 342,607 866,445 $19,046,425 $21.98
384 93224 — 342,382 366,993 $30,569,254 $83.30
385 77001 — 341,512 430,254 $9,611,471 $22.34
386 77295 — 133,009 153,698 $43,495,193 $282.99
387 67904 — 30,448 64,406 $43,304,992 $672.38
388 73501 — 340,911 419,328 $7,286,224 $17.38
389 01480 — 197,188 310,137 $43,298,985 $139.61
390 22842 — 51,852 82,002 $43,281,636 $527.81
391 00562 — 47,121 57,952 $43,251,903 $746.34
392 99282 — 335,247 391,028 $15,431,714 $39.46
393 27096 — 211,999 315,543 $43,016,139 $136.32
394 87804 Influenza Antigen Test 328,774 593,681 $8,961,132 $15.09
395 20605 — 328,112 464,856 $20,713,725 $44.56
396 78816 Whole-Body PET/CT Imaging 51,895 69,283 $42,585,959 $614.67
397 99304 — 323,716 371,981 $33,566,496 $90.24
398 83516 — 321,666 648,263 $9,491,525 $14.64
399 55700 — Retired after Q4 2025 138,000 159,288 $41,795,285 $262.39
400 73080 — 320,727 393,798 $6,250,038 $15.87
402 93320 — 318,598 345,794 $9,506,451 $27.49
403 64494 — 297,020 459,777 $41,295,984 $89.82
404 85018 — 317,293 586,399 $1,841,073 $3.14
405 84075 — 316,710 471,652 $804,336 $1.71
406 11730 — 315,029 443,865 $41,128,961 $92.66
407 90471 — 313,535 337,282 $7,568,873 $22.44
408 76641 — 308,554 475,845 $40,962,395 $86.08
409 00300 — 162,824 254,486 $40,755,930 $160.15
410 74230 — 308,420 365,107 $11,304,302 $30.96
411 92285 — 306,651 374,776 $6,757,774 $18.03
412 22513 — 21,465 24,264 $40,637,315 $1,674.80
414 84154 — 304,584 377,602 $9,243,666 $24.48
415 01936 — Retired after Q4 2021 160,334 313,315 $40,143,940 $128.13
416 86376 — 300,326 361,000 $6,937,518 $19.22
417 93656 Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation 33,889 35,383 $39,997,550 $1,130.42
418 17262 — 213,379 271,307 $39,699,285 $146.33
419 73140 — 295,829 392,847 $7,958,579 $20.26
421 70498 Neck CT Angiography 294,715 315,091 $25,912,003 $82.24
422 37241 — 8,259 11,259 $39,120,947 $3,474.64
423 72070 — 294,276 339,100 $6,748,248 $19.90
424 83090 — 292,784 378,676 $8,517,810 $22.49
425 95819 — 218,115 237,819 $39,092,489 $164.38
426 97535 Self-Care and Home Management Training 289,921 1,247,475 $37,193,653 $29.82
427 45384 — 117,559 159,663 $38,953,188 $243.97
428 33361 Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement 24,123 44,299 $38,749,235 $874.72
429 88331 — 288,294 523,669 $36,863,360 $70.39
430 36558 — 110,679 129,647 $38,539,633 $297.27
431 71101 — 287,877 314,204 $5,727,976 $18.23
432 95816 Electroencephalography Study 264,472 292,602 $38,356,929 $131.09
433 88377 — 64,897 158,836 $38,316,581 $241.23
434 19301 — 50,013 60,587 $38,233,075 $631.04
436 90962 — 88,281 210,554 $38,027,630 $180.61
437 73060 — 278,261 376,088 $5,283,425 $14.05
439 83704 — 275,399 374,033 $15,427,422 $41.25
440 01844 — 93,612 175,421 $37,251,210 $212.35
441 77002 — 274,283 503,176 $34,433,303 $68.43
442 87340 — 273,361 295,022 $3,974,642 $13.47
443 82378 — 272,692 596,398 $15,054,193 $25.24
444 95911 — 165,549 172,136 $36,944,612 $214.62
445 70544 — 272,293 289,489 $28,103,930 $97.08
446 70496 Head CT Angiography 270,842 292,557 $27,210,852 $93.01
447 65778 Ocular Surface Amniotic Membrane Placement 18,406 26,869 $36,826,757 $1,370.60
448 88173 — 268,949 376,799 $33,757,533 $89.59
449 01992 — 151,163 317,335 $36,667,542 $115.55
450 85045 — 266,556 369,015 $1,965,047 $5.33
451 00910 — 218,240 375,911 $36,496,212 $97.09
452 87205 — 266,113 343,357 $1,878,577 $5.47
453 86200 — 265,073 294,571 $5,068,487 $17.21
454 20600 — 264,737 403,507 $16,630,034 $41.21
455 93312 — 260,022 300,325 $36,295,889 $120.86
456 01230 — 120,835 170,862 $36,129,968 $211.46
458 67210 — 47,118 73,083 $35,579,696 $486.84
459 87624 — 263,703 271,114 $12,021,385 $44.34
460 00630 — 94,717 139,342 $35,456,986 $254.46
461 80051 — 261,756 395,384 $1,752,715 $4.43
462 93460 — 89,536 90,842 $35,395,130 $389.63
463 19083 — 105,307 108,980 $35,259,273 $323.54
464 64633 — 42,006 82,311 $35,233,646 $428.06
465 99315 — 259,297 281,799 $19,288,136 $68.45
466 28285 — 48,231 107,311 $35,202,705 $328.04
467 73565 — 258,433 296,654 $8,664,779 $29.21
468 43248 — 98,223 159,343 $34,830,734 $218.59
470 78306 — 257,134 294,350 $21,516,610 $73.10
471 43249 — 95,966 140,025 $34,716,011 $247.93
472 47563 — 45,100 54,610 $34,572,939 $633.09
473 82247 — 253,951 437,384 $718,765 $1.64
474 37221 — Retired after Q4 2025 29,840 33,950 $34,572,359 $1,018.33
475 88175 — 252,266 263,421 $8,971,790 $34.06
476 72197 Pelvic MRI With and Without Contrast 126,496 143,799 $34,012,108 $236.53
477 93308 — 250,704 304,568 $11,547,454 $37.91
478 22840 — 41,506 66,532 $34,009,349 $511.17
479 00320 — 109,498 170,114 $33,913,406 $199.36
480 94762 — 247,616 276,059 $7,676,861 $27.81
482 11750 — 162,878 215,453 $33,638,103 $156.13
483 86592 — 246,184 280,820 $1,592,482 $5.67
484 31500 — 243,403 279,402 $30,917,270 $110.66
485 91110 — 51,602 53,734 $33,331,788 $620.31
486 92550 — 240,652 259,594 $5,630,836 $21.69
488 73700 — 238,216 269,672 $16,975,067 $62.95
489 37226 — Retired after Q4 2025 24,887 27,736 $33,184,309 $1,196.43
490 01630 — 119,581 169,696 $32,920,006 $193.99
491 86235 — 236,692 1,282,870 $29,605,404 $23.08
492 63030 — 29,643 46,996 $32,476,179 $691.04
494 01922 — 129,682 197,410 $32,450,552 $164.38
495 64484 — 234,550 413,509 $30,790,943 $74.46
496 93042 — 234,258 442,996 $3,162,659 $7.14
497 93459 — 100,483 107,030 $32,262,631 $301.44
498 20552 — 232,279 371,529 $17,318,425 $46.61
499 63048 — 79,659 217,265 $31,986,306 $147.22
500 67108 — 15,572 24,880 $31,908,668 $1,282.50
501 92941 — 45,109 46,885 $31,336,447 $668.37
502 00537 — 67,019 100,441 $31,281,174 $311.44
503 92002 — 226,150 228,679 $17,583,975 $76.89
504 84295 — 224,470 350,996 $649,457 $1.85
505 96375 — 178,097 1,437,968 $31,186,018 $21.69
506 86800 — 224,186 287,506 $6,018,462 $20.93
507 99236 — 139,942 147,003 $31,068,292 $211.34
508 84402 — 224,111 303,984 $10,253,874 $33.73
509 83525 — 223,758 313,634 $4,756,089 $15.16
510 65756 — 12,388 24,974 $30,825,011 $1,234.28
511 94620 — Retired after Q4 2017 218,316 267,973 $12,790,272 $47.73
512 77373 — 4,844 23,126 $30,798,974 $1,331.79
513 70491 — 216,380 264,658 $23,070,166 $87.17
514 86225 — 215,483 265,336 $4,832,970 $18.21
515 11602 — 182,127 214,117 $30,079,809 $140.48
517 99226 — Retired after Q4 2022 211,293 277,750 $28,396,113 $102.24
518 22845 — 38,476 60,222 $29,906,791 $496.61
519 76519 — 211,146 334,373 $18,605,639 $55.64
520 37228 — Retired after Q4 2025 25,177 29,020 $29,632,526 $1,021.11
522 73090 — 209,978 253,039 $3,073,242 $12.15
523 10061 — 134,306 158,220 $29,244,411 $184.83
524 83921 — 209,320 329,153 $7,202,109 $21.88
525 71100 — 208,918 235,503 $4,166,155 $17.69
528 82465 — 207,137 302,303 $890,597 $2.95
529 13101 — 81,118 92,552 $28,720,777 $310.32
530 73100 — 205,867 330,321 $6,579,559 $19.92
534 99406 — 201,066 281,629 $3,720,365 $13.21
535 88108 — 200,811 286,299 $9,887,534 $34.54
536 95910 — 160,775 165,158 $28,468,478 $172.37
537 72146 — 200,355 225,140 $24,321,538 $108.03
539 86706 — 200,355 213,870 $3,042,446 $14.23
540 72072 — 199,891 215,227 $3,371,034 $15.66
541 88360 — 153,860 408,135 $28,124,012 $68.91
542 01810 — 187,443 283,843 $28,085,977 $98.95
543 73600 — 199,220 270,194 $5,191,342 $19.21
544 82670 — 197,663 276,022 $10,104,453 $36.61
545 29848 — 27,464 48,418 $27,778,036 $573.71
546 78582 — 196,313 209,371 $11,667,785 $55.73
547 83718 — 196,257 293,918 $3,203,499 $10.90
548 27487 — 14,783 23,628 $27,657,709 $1,170.55
549 88300 — 195,466 220,056 $1,117,146 $5.08
550 85014 — 194,941 353,853 $1,113,678 $3.15
551 93926 — 194,484 253,346 $19,077,497 $75.30
552 93975 — 185,980 218,576 $27,286,186 $124.84
554 82533 — 194,230 265,258 $5,743,654 $21.65
555 73521 — 194,193 213,309 $5,135,598 $24.08
556 20680 — 50,892 70,538 $27,235,808 $386.12
557 73120 — 193,319 294,562 $5,268,349 $17.89

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 7,790 CPT codes billed to Medicare in CY2016, 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 concentrates hard. The top 25 codes carry 57.2% of the $79.2B these 500 codes account for.

  1. 1 99214 Long Follow-Up Office Visit $10.0B
  2. 2 99213 Routine Follow-Up Office Visit $6.8B
  3. 3 99232 Daily Hospital Visit $3.4B
  4. 4 99233 Extended Daily Hospital Visit $2.3B
  5. 5 66984 Cataract Surgery $2.2B
  6. 6 99223 Extended Hospital Admission Visit $2.1B
  7. 7 99285 Emergency Visit, Highest Urgency $2.0B
  8. 8 99204 Long New Patient Office Visit $1.6B
  9. 9 92014 Full Eye Exam, Returning Patient $1.5B
  10. 10 97110 Physical Therapy Exercises $1.4B

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
81003 Automated Urinalysis
By beneficiaries
#25
By allowed dollars
#376
Per service
$2.98
Few patients, lots of money
37227 Leg Artery Plaque Removal With Stent
By beneficiaries
#493
By allowed dollars
#84
Per service
$8,754.26

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

These are CY2016 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 excluded by design — the first are billed per unit, which makes service counts incomparable, and the second already carry CMS-owned descriptions.

21 codes on this list have since left the fee schedule. CMS billed them heavily in CY2016 and then 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 7,790 CPT codes billed to Medicare in CY2016; this table shows the top 500 we cover.

Source: CMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners—by Geography and Service, national rows, CY2016. 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.

Did this answer your question about the most-billed CPT codes?

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