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

Medicare's 500 most-billed CPT codes of 2017

In CY2017 Medicare paid $80.9B across these 500 CPT codes. 99214 (Long Follow-Up Office Visit) leads every measure: 26.7M beneficiaries and $10.2B 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
$80.9B
Total Medicare allowed dollars
Services
1.3B
Times these codes were billed
Top 25
56.4%
Share of the allowed dollars
Vintage
CY2017
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
109 37227 Leg Artery Plaque Removal With Stent Retired after Q4 2025 17,654 21,026 $191,354,799 $9,100.87
87 37225 Leg Artery Plaque Removal With Balloon Widening Retired after Q4 2025 34,219 41,617 $229,311,732 $5,510.05
127 37229 Leg Artery Plaque Removal Retired after Q4 2025 24,906 32,791 $168,753,224 $5,146.33
100 63685 Spinal Cord Stimulator Battery Placement 26,387 40,988 $197,050,989 $4,807.53
299 36906 — 11,336 13,657 $57,522,379 $4,211.93
256 36903 — 17,976 20,445 $72,776,775 $3,559.64
336 64590 Peripheral Nerve Stimulator Battery Placement 11,816 15,018 $50,065,580 $3,333.70
514 64561 Sacral Nerve Stimulation Electrode Placement 8,607 14,359 $30,852,895 $2,148.68
354 22514 — 24,734 27,065 $47,363,193 $1,749.98
401 22513 — 21,698 24,543 $42,551,494 $1,733.75
271 36905 — 29,122 44,373 $68,165,034 $1,536.18
129 36475 Radiofrequency Treatment of an Incompetent Extremity Vein 66,750 120,451 $168,233,829 $1,396.70
344 33405 — 22,226 35,430 $49,322,429 $1,392.11
342 65778 Ocular Surface Amniotic Membrane Placement 22,765 36,490 $49,334,038 $1,351.99
482 77373 — 5,460 25,619 $34,112,331 $1,331.52
296 33249 — 46,129 47,019 $59,400,705 $1,263.33
504 25609 — 16,705 25,111 $31,712,013 $1,262.87
310 67042 — 27,241 45,187 $55,766,983 $1,234.14
531 65756 — 12,093 24,088 $29,704,293 $1,233.16
500 37226 — Retired after Q4 2025 23,603 26,184 $32,280,922 $1,232.85
509 67108 — 15,930 25,702 $31,180,072 $1,213.14
259 22633 — 36,737 60,318 $72,068,357 $1,194.81
539 27487 — 15,576 24,742 $29,224,880 $1,181.19
248 22551 Anterior Cervical Spine Fusion 39,406 63,387 $74,603,566 $1,176.95
171 33533 Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting 63,525 102,233 $117,768,712 $1,151.96
212 36478 — 41,480 80,181 $90,905,555 $1,133.75
370 93656 Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation 38,282 39,904 $45,118,465 $1,130.68
478 37228 — Retired after Q4 2025 26,624 30,920 $34,382,002 $1,111.97
158 29827 Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair 67,693 125,178 $133,034,679 $1,062.76
459 37221 — Retired after Q4 2025 30,136 34,052 $35,854,787 $1,052.94
340 77523 — 2,034 48,580 $49,403,796 $1,016.96
198 27245 Surgical Fixation of a Proximal Femur Fracture 81,031 104,732 $104,364,245 $996.49
141 78492 Cardiac PET Scan, Multiple Studies 135,323 149,926 $148,113,759 $987.91
222 23472 Total Shoulder Arthroplasty 52,989 84,924 $83,815,123 $986.94
164 77301 Intensity-Modulated Radiation Treatment Planning 114,668 126,688 $124,226,893 $980.57
104 36902 Dialysis Circuit Endovascular Treatment 126,220 210,845 $196,589,359 $932.39
103 93229 Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Analysis 207,311 213,442 $197,036,517 $923.14
260 27236 — 57,116 78,739 $71,498,352 $908.04
44 27447 Knee Replacement 285,102 487,562 $439,095,399 $900.59
86 27130 Total Hip Arthroplasty 151,007 254,727 $229,392,297 $900.54
388 52601 — 45,824 48,586 $43,587,019 $897.11
349 35301 — 38,113 53,306 $47,613,932 $893.22
301 15260 — 54,738 64,874 $57,471,184 $885.89
328 33361 Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement 31,509 58,653 $51,398,626 $876.32
319 50590 — 48,979 68,765 $52,070,628 $757.23
426 00562 — 43,200 53,154 $39,931,783 $751.25
507 63030 — 27,680 44,073 $31,447,072 $713.52
367 67904 — 31,293 66,579 $45,872,500 $688.99
360 29880 — 45,232 68,006 $46,471,793 $683.35
371 00567 — 53,153 66,318 $45,044,734 $679.22
529 92941 — 43,564 44,940 $29,719,056 $661.31
306 29881 — 59,097 87,265 $56,133,798 $643.26
496 47563 — 42,286 51,349 $32,423,584 $631.44
365 78816 Whole-Body PET/CT Imaging 54,934 74,051 $45,922,011 $620.14
436 19301 — 51,501 62,675 $38,737,203 $618.06
206 63047 Lumbar Spine Decompression Surgery 102,383 165,229 $99,717,736 $603.51
245 47562 — 106,185 129,218 $76,050,790 $588.55
189 95951 — Retired after Q4 2019 62,826 185,334 $108,153,849 $583.56
287 33208 — 103,504 105,208 $61,363,659 $583.26
510 91110 — 51,279 53,279 $31,023,603 $582.29
413 49505 — 56,487 70,767 $40,885,072 $577.74
148 92928 Coronary Artery Stent Procedure 206,806 255,093 $139,873,787 $548.32
54 78815 PET/CT Scan, Skull Base to Thigh 449,084 640,059 $350,849,849 $548.15
279 17313 Mohs Surgery on Trunk or Extremities, First Stage 95,089 120,454 $65,389,422 $542.86
47 17311 Mohs Skin Cancer Surgery, First Stage 570,390 754,871 $408,238,514 $540.81
477 36907 — 40,559 64,550 $34,424,831 $533.30
382 22842 — 52,536 83,898 $43,998,867 $524.43
494 22840 — 39,983 64,565 $32,835,763 $508.57
479 67210 — 43,291 70,348 $34,265,061 $487.08
237 64721 Open Carpal Tunnel Release 102,842 162,567 $78,203,378 $481.05
136 64635 Lumbar or Sacral Facet Nerve Ablation 178,313 363,093 $155,868,694 $429.28
430 64633 — 45,666 91,281 $39,081,832 $428.15
522 20680 — 51,270 71,282 $30,307,837 $425.18
191 00670 Anesthesia for Spine Surgery 170,908 254,135 $107,588,665 $423.35
411 28285 — 46,321 102,584 $40,968,772 $399.37
312 36561 — 128,730 136,612 $54,396,293 $398.18
488 93460 — 88,263 89,444 $33,702,711 $376.80
114 17312 Mohs Surgery, Additional Stage 298,182 490,940 $184,909,875 $376.64
97 66982 Complex Cataract Surgery With Lens Implant 146,869 576,651 $210,878,013 $365.69
363 26055 — 70,888 135,438 $46,083,144 $340.25
347 77338 — 114,896 148,150 $48,072,194 $324.48
465 19083 — 106,991 110,681 $35,759,676 $323.09
46 45385 Colonoscopy With Polyp Removal 869,257 1,270,019 $409,563,526 $322.49
161 95811 — 346,856 404,155 $127,620,584 $315.77
525 13101 — 83,559 95,320 $29,826,596 $312.91
485 00537 — 72,622 109,800 $33,912,656 $308.86
300 13121 — 158,649 188,493 $57,508,969 $305.10
209 95810 — 298,915 332,136 $98,085,012 $295.32
538 93459 — 95,267 101,517 $29,330,042 $288.92
224 13132 Complex Skin Wound Repair 245,841 291,044 $82,712,994 $284.19
445 36558 — 111,922 131,334 $37,200,636 $283.25
392 77295 — 132,269 153,041 $43,290,190 $282.87
31 90960 Monthly Dialysis Care, Frequent Visits 308,475 2,255,961 $634,338,865 $281.18
375 55700 — Retired after Q4 2025 142,914 165,414 $44,891,095 $271.39
152 93458 Coronary Angiography and Left Heart Catheterization 497,709 520,332 $137,711,232 $264.66
290 01214 — 158,688 233,584 $60,860,020 $260.55
38 78452 Myocardial Perfusion Imaging 1,900,354 1,990,365 $512,101,202 $257.29
481 00630 — 91,888 135,288 $34,173,979 $252.60
274 12032 Intermediate Skin Wound Repair 235,871 263,569 $66,434,545 $252.06
463 45384 — 104,967 142,860 $35,762,829 $250.33
177 00790 Anesthesia for Upper Abdominal Surgery 316,909 468,865 $115,957,937 $247.32
466 43249 — 99,067 144,560 $35,704,018 $246.98
7 66984 Cataract Surgery 1,278,658 8,957,299 $2,211,923,313 $246.94
187 01402 Anesthesia for Knee Arthroplasty 308,240 466,775 $113,144,416 $242.40
415 72197 Pelvic MRI With and Without Contrast 149,905 169,288 $40,848,723 $241.30
124 90961 Monthly Dialysis Care, Fewer Visits 237,128 730,280 $171,207,316 $234.44
281 00840 — 191,462 278,897 $64,953,241 $232.89
234 90966 Monthly Home Dialysis Services 49,355 342,341 $79,269,431 $231.55
451 88377 — 65,489 160,943 $36,830,134 $228.84
59 45380 Colonoscopy With Tissue Sampling 1,038,764 1,493,109 $339,099,325 $227.11
265 74183 Abdominal MRI With and Without Contrast 256,335 310,793 $70,298,662 $226.19
20 99291 Critical Care 1,830,425 5,665,354 $1,268,221,340 $223.86
317 77290 — 181,201 235,508 $52,258,617 $221.90
167 99496 Transitional Care After Discharge, Prompt Contact 479,565 550,307 $119,780,353 $217.66
453 95911 — 163,059 169,395 $36,693,564 $216.62
84 64483 Lumbar or Sacral Transforaminal Epidural Injection 490,625 1,108,811 $239,711,356 $216.19
170 45378 Diagnostic Colonoscopy 433,454 547,611 $117,921,113 $215.34
535 99236 — 131,992 138,656 $29,517,955 $212.89
454 01844 — 90,257 171,219 $36,318,143 $212.12
457 01230 — 119,845 169,945 $35,983,471 $211.74
429 65855 — 104,301 185,952 $39,269,600 $211.18
490 43248 — 98,511 159,327 $33,093,306 $207.71
339 64490 — 108,715 238,470 $49,474,117 $207.46
326 93351 — 246,626 251,404 $51,751,468 $205.85
10 99223 Extended Hospital Admission Visit 4,421,501 10,722,261 $2,144,424,236 $200.00
492 00320 — 106,388 166,037 $33,033,447 $198.95
143 64493 Lumbar or Sacral Facet Joint Injection 344,067 746,523 $147,385,289 $197.43
180 31231 Diagnostic Nasal Endoscopy 402,015 584,915 $114,672,072 $196.05
37 99205 Longest New Patient Office Visit 2,540,868 2,860,827 $556,814,633 $194.63
498 01630 — 117,273 166,326 $32,329,974 $194.38
77 66821 Laser Treatment of the Posterior Lens Capsule 525,010 1,378,871 $267,345,460 $193.89
98 77427 Radiation Treatment Management 245,924 1,075,140 $198,546,861 $184.67
323 62321 — 141,508 280,853 $51,819,826 $184.51
273 11043 Muscle and Fascia Wound Debridement 119,115 369,952 $67,206,494 $181.66
80 99220 — Retired after Q4 2022 1,194,266 1,408,530 $255,779,608 $181.59
440 90962 — 88,914 210,977 $38,108,242 $180.63
345 72158 — 241,090 275,956 $48,863,321 $177.07
546 95910 — 156,735 161,072 $28,453,291 $176.65
200 74178 Abdomen and Pelvis CT With and Without Contrast 512,155 592,102 $104,245,404 $176.06
175 93925 Bilateral Lower-Extremity Arterial Duplex Study 562,187 662,750 $116,443,528 $175.70
12 99285 Emergency Visit, Highest Urgency 6,861,092 11,772,392 $2,046,747,337 $173.86
133 62323 Lumbar or Sacral Epidural Injection 454,809 924,814 $160,420,286 $173.46
120 70553 Brain MRI With and Without Contrast 859,483 1,049,675 $178,723,254 $170.27
441 95819 — 209,480 227,950 $38,043,298 $166.89
267 99350 Established Patient Home or Residence Visit, Level 4 143,974 424,158 $69,607,210 $164.11
92 99306 Initial Nursing Facility Care, Level 3 1,041,847 1,373,331 $225,104,178 $163.91
351 77263 — 267,367 289,532 $47,411,673 $163.75
64 43239 Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy With Tissue Sampling 1,347,384 1,962,437 $320,737,515 $163.44
472 01922 — 141,339 217,048 $35,201,693 $162.18
423 00300 — 159,400 248,479 $40,248,775 $161.98
334 77280 Radiation Treatment Simulation 155,442 317,422 $50,543,001 $159.23
138 52000 Diagnostic Cystoscopy 748,578 984,202 $154,718,673 $157.20
484 93975 — 187,836 218,260 $33,984,457 $155.71
14 99204 Long New Patient Office Visit 8,111,646 10,174,582 $1,579,263,952 $155.22
216 99495 Transitional Care After Discharge 518,672 580,628 $88,337,991 $152.14
512 63048 — 76,310 210,337 $30,879,058 $146.81
427 17262 — 213,477 270,614 $39,706,297 $146.73
162 17004 Destruction of Multiple Premalignant Skin Lesions 578,436 871,623 $126,353,704 $144.96
420 31500 — 244,577 280,557 $40,399,020 $144.00
379 93978 — 269,229 314,259 $44,839,620 $142.68
63 92004 New Patient Eye Examination, Comprehensive 2,172,509 2,278,167 $322,906,062 $141.74
303 43235 — 326,248 407,458 $57,407,222 $140.89
384 01480 — 199,288 316,073 $43,998,567 $139.20
521 11602 — 186,857 219,392 $30,500,013 $139.02
254 73221 Upper-Extremity Joint MRI Without Contrast 434,471 531,299 $73,471,257 $138.29
196 73721 Lower-Extremity Joint MRI Without Contrast 615,667 766,279 $105,781,608 $138.05
321 68761 Lacrimal Punctum Closure 171,546 383,763 $51,892,806 $135.22
244 90792 Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation With Medical Services 494,844 564,849 $76,354,436 $135.18
385 27096 — 220,431 326,301 $43,992,763 $134.82
24 99222 Hospital Admission Visit 3,458,862 6,809,286 $917,174,610 $134.69
19 99215 Longest Follow-Up Office Visit 5,752,883 9,980,372 $1,338,827,632 $134.15
83 96413 Intravenous Antineoplastic Infusion Administration 244,642 1,818,873 $243,327,078 $133.78
433 95816 Electroencephalography Study 264,269 292,956 $39,052,736 $133.31
221 99219 — Retired after Q4 2022 580,547 644,936 $85,042,209 $131.86
386 01936 — Retired after Q4 2021 173,434 339,130 $43,762,682 $129.04
151 99305 Initial Nursing Facility Care, Level 2 849,278 1,084,774 $138,264,196 $127.46
113 72148 Lumbar Spine MRI Without Contrast 1,297,768 1,488,851 $186,350,134 $125.16
126 99310 Subsequent Nursing Facility Care, Level 4 548,466 1,361,946 $169,616,184 $124.54
235 72141 Cervical Spine MRI Without Contrast 575,815 648,249 $78,812,489 $121.58
70 00810 — Retired after Q4 2017 1,883,061 2,494,404 $303,212,111 $121.56
309 36556 — 386,306 461,191 $56,045,409 $121.52
155 99349 Established Patient Home or Residence Visit, Level 3 283,445 1,139,758 $137,216,933 $120.39
13 92014 Full Eye Exam, Returning Patient 9,564,398 12,225,961 $1,466,766,983 $119.97
356 00400 — 247,804 398,189 $47,173,364 $118.47
25 93306 Heart Ultrasound 6,405,480 7,464,163 $883,891,142 $118.42
194 90791 Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation 811,705 907,365 $106,414,056 $117.28
534 72146 — 205,291 230,414 $26,959,883 $117.01
468 01992 — 148,050 308,129 $35,575,363 $115.46
74 93880 Carotid Artery Duplex Study 2,213,233 2,446,346 $281,441,580 $115.05
30 99284 Emergency Visit, High Urgency 4,108,384 5,803,223 $666,884,895 $114.92
94 00740 — Retired after Q4 2017 1,176,786 1,894,873 $215,728,198 $113.85
358 64636 — 163,092 416,244 $47,005,990 $112.93
52 74177 Abdomen and Pelvis CT With Contrast 2,374,754 3,166,113 $354,441,402 $111.95
294 99292 — 267,169 536,807 $59,453,093 $110.75
446 93312 — 271,839 316,525 $34,696,273 $109.62
381 10060 — 351,195 406,457 $44,124,602 $108.56
34 90837 Extended Therapy Session 541,790 5,589,875 $603,219,983 $107.91
353 99183 — 19,652 444,831 $47,376,935 $106.51
62 67028 Intravitreal Medication Injection 620,764 3,113,696 $329,536,684 $105.83
40 99239 Extended Hospital Discharge Visit 3,285,345 4,846,825 $511,720,446 $105.58
276 31575 — 490,075 638,562 $66,164,869 $103.62
6 99233 Extended Daily Hospital Visit 3,606,261 23,100,219 $2,388,381,413 $103.39
511 99226 — Retired after Q4 2022 220,023 285,816 $29,512,678 $103.26
168 70551 Brain MRI Without Contrast 1,040,836 1,160,664 $119,344,914 $102.82
89 17110 Destruction of Benign Skin Lesions 1,675,771 2,234,691 $227,615,995 $101.86
16 99203 New Patient Office Visit 9,068,123 11,295,948 $1,142,880,493 $101.18
96 00142 Anesthesia for Lens Surgery 1,082,328 2,116,265 $213,444,786 $100.86
1 99214 Long Follow-Up Office Visit 26,676,302 102,087,464 $10,220,026,741 $100.11
117 99221 Initial Hospital Care, Level 1 1,369,489 1,859,611 $183,907,380 $98.90
179 71275 Chest CT Angiography 1,014,622 1,158,073 $113,653,270 $98.14
409 11730 — 300,854 422,460 $41,259,795 $97.67
361 99316 — 376,731 416,314 $40,628,852 $97.59
448 00910 — 222,571 380,544 $36,890,369 $96.94
93 74176 Abdomen and Pelvis CT Without Contrast 1,860,819 2,355,591 $224,542,813 $95.32
400 70496 Head CT Angiography 327,808 356,011 $33,715,197 $94.70
452 70544 — 267,386 284,249 $26,597,270 $93.57
380 70498 Neck CT Angiography 352,560 379,250 $35,381,964 $93.29
225 20611 Ultrasound-Guided Major Joint Injection or Aspiration 404,962 898,220 $82,094,837 $91.40
213 88307 Surgical Pathology Examination, Level V 588,834 977,552 $89,268,341 $91.32
416 99304 — 316,178 359,501 $32,337,249 $89.95
502 70491 — 224,213 275,080 $24,629,206 $89.53
405 64494 — 304,815 468,689 $41,835,372 $89.26
467 88173 — 261,847 372,531 $33,199,831 $89.12
121 93970 Bilateral Extremity Venous Duplex Study 1,397,218 1,682,696 $149,909,680 $89.09
394 76641 — 324,123 489,985 $43,174,924 $88.11
327 93923 — 420,513 500,462 $43,546,974 $87.01
27 99309 Extended Nursing Home Visit 1,831,370 9,140,119 $775,380,796 $84.83
36 92012 Established Patient Eye Examination, Intermediate 3,675,485 6,641,710 $558,666,567 $84.11
414 93224 — 317,264 339,350 $28,501,738 $83.99
337 76830 — 411,733 474,324 $39,717,965 $83.74
240 95886 Needle Electromyography Study 545,279 936,988 $77,485,608 $82.70
404 99348 Established Patient Home or Residence Visit, Level 2 192,696 521,623 $42,385,184 $81.26
153 97162 Detailed Physical Therapy Evaluation 1,138,205 1,262,404 $102,503,310 $81.20
431 97163 — 297,312 319,712 $25,958,232 $81.19
157 97161 Physical Therapy Evaluation 1,127,324 1,255,980 $101,721,352 $80.99
397 90836 — 109,352 542,993 $42,994,099 $79.18
357 92235 — 385,307 492,983 $39,016,100 $79.14
146 11042 Subcutaneous Tissue Wound Debridement 467,122 1,844,734 $145,264,570 $78.75
190 99497 Advance Care Planning 969,967 1,077,513 $84,254,757 $78.19
513 92002 — 219,210 221,698 $17,117,896 $77.21
125 71260 Chest CT With Contrast 1,372,243 1,891,418 $144,537,581 $76.42
473 88360 — 184,735 468,673 $35,012,965 $74.71
332 76856 — 414,043 482,649 $35,709,439 $73.99
50 90834 Standard Therapy Session 614,411 5,134,491 $379,824,154 $73.98
314 96401 Subcutaneous or Intramuscular Antineoplastic Injection Administration 154,140 730,246 $53,858,944 $73.75
497 64484 — 230,395 392,698 $28,906,121 $73.61
90 80307 Presumptive Drug Screening 1,190,194 3,075,002 $226,222,682 $73.57
480 78306 — 245,927 283,309 $20,829,901 $73.52
199 76700 Complete Abdominal Ultrasound 912,779 1,041,136 $75,521,381 $72.54
230 90935 — 210,097 1,108,421 $79,630,289 $71.84
102 71250 Chest CT Without Contrast 1,737,644 2,215,160 $159,028,072 $71.79
443 88331 — 275,681 502,330 $35,862,622 $71.39
4 99232 Daily Hospital Visit 4,860,457 47,353,298 $3,362,851,550 $71.02
223 76536 Neck Soft-Tissue Ultrasound 804,021 929,845 $65,835,417 $70.80
348 99225 — Retired after Q4 2022 394,549 584,410 $41,342,231 $70.74
144 99217 — Retired after Q4 2022 1,230,631 1,402,405 $99,093,829 $70.66
85 99238 Hospital Discharge Visit 2,259,694 3,034,318 $214,296,192 $70.62
462 77002 — 265,063 481,484 $33,151,235 $68.85
181 93015 Complete Cardiovascular Stress Test 1,011,782 1,043,175 $71,800,301 $68.83
537 93926 — 200,368 262,802 $18,041,581 $68.65
475 99315 — 253,031 275,491 $18,899,487 $68.60
71 99202 New Patient Office Visit, Level 2 2,580,107 2,721,225 $186,565,503 $68.56
219 96365 Intravenous Therapeutic Infusion Administration 283,762 1,254,800 $85,360,626 $68.03
2 99213 Routine Follow-Up Office Visit 26,137,643 97,527,463 $6,626,926,131 $67.95
471 73700 — 257,717 293,999 $19,158,401 $65.16
28 99308 Nursing Home Visit 1,971,619 10,804,341 $701,797,651 $64.96
205 88312 Special Stain for Microorganisms 863,444 1,571,644 $99,937,698 $63.59
69 92250 Fundus Photography 2,717,701 3,225,144 $204,125,174 $63.29
297 70486 — 496,373 540,611 $34,054,015 $62.99
313 72131 Lumbar Spine CT Without Contrast 446,301 492,376 $30,685,980 $62.32
227 90833 Psychotherapy With Evaluation and Management 374,272 1,342,582 $81,736,921 $60.88
73 92083 Comprehensive Visual Field Examination 2,532,838 2,963,000 $179,092,051 $60.44
147 76770 Complete Retroperitoneal Ultrasound 1,195,833 1,383,387 $83,323,531 $60.23
78 99283 Emergency Department Visit, Level 3 2,379,656 3,183,548 $189,970,375 $59.67
122 88342 Immunohistochemistry Study, Initial Antibody 1,391,951 2,057,928 $121,149,372 $58.87
56 20610 Major Joint Injection or Aspiration 2,875,845 5,840,974 $343,696,771 $58.84
165 92136 Ophthalmic Biometry for Intraocular Lens Planning 1,102,891 1,814,122 $106,413,123 $58.66
270 93922 — 578,012 698,462 $40,272,444 $57.66
156 90832 Brief Therapy Session 393,515 2,385,982 $136,268,678 $57.11
178 11056 Paring of Multiple Benign Foot Lesions 807,966 2,030,186 $115,473,525 $56.88
173 72125 Cervical Spine CT Without Contrast 1,049,995 1,208,931 $67,953,984 $56.21
387 97164 — 342,919 521,225 $28,310,238 $54.31
292 36620 — 517,030 574,842 $29,708,199 $51.68
41 17000 Precancerous Skin Spot Removal 3,915,292 5,795,860 $299,359,409 $51.65
333 97597 — 325,539 989,482 $51,062,088 $51.60
266 76642 Limited Breast Ultrasound 594,878 734,717 $37,216,559 $50.65
399 98942 — 108,289 855,560 $42,978,825 $50.23
119 93971 Unilateral Extremity Venous Duplex Study 1,422,379 1,811,960 $89,200,970 $49.23
22 88305 Biopsy Tissue Examination 7,747,793 19,682,669 $958,864,495 $48.72
506 94620 — Retired after Q4 2017 222,606 271,156 $12,932,926 $47.70
493 20552 — 235,560 377,184 $17,752,894 $47.07
295 20550 — 499,035 806,387 $37,462,456 $46.46
182 94060 Bronchodilator Responsiveness Testing 1,011,250 1,200,207 $54,412,433 $45.34
284 77300 — 254,787 1,407,774 $63,742,986 $45.28
308 11055 — 464,835 902,164 $40,835,910 $45.26
257 83880 Natriuretic Peptide Test 624,015 945,104 $42,509,173 $44.98
410 20605 — 322,110 455,208 $20,464,765 $44.96
145 69210 Impacted Earwax Removal 1,199,285 1,556,898 $69,851,748 $44.87
464 87624 — 264,885 272,101 $12,167,728 $44.72
42 70450 Head CT Without Contrast 3,906,920 5,843,500 $257,661,750 $44.09
193 76942 — 937,788 1,207,305 $52,661,554 $43.62
68 11721 Debridement of Multiple Nails 2,656,949 7,198,874 $309,047,384 $42.93
183 99307 Subsequent Nursing Facility Care, Level 1 870,039 2,669,770 $113,734,098 $42.60
516 83704 — 218,388 297,575 $12,395,967 $41.66
246 88112 Cytopathology Examination 693,695 1,070,264 $44,508,516 $41.59
455 20600 — 267,381 404,998 $16,816,404 $41.52
149 99490 Chronic Care Management 788,183 3,392,985 $138,703,488 $40.88
283 76775 — 542,016 610,258 $24,638,150 $40.37
26 99212 Brief Follow-Up Office Visit 7,173,595 12,746,728 $509,962,398 $40.01
403 99282 — 324,359 380,222 $15,041,048 $39.56
60 92134 Retina Scan 2,982,420 6,767,542 $267,432,333 $39.52
33 82306 Vitamin D Blood Test 4,702,624 6,414,655 $250,799,519 $39.10
262 88185 — 81,566 1,839,490 $71,446,750 $38.84
188 76705 Limited Abdominal Ultrasound 974,883 1,136,350 $43,473,218 $38.26
43 98941 Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation, Multiple Regions 1,377,701 13,052,580 $499,209,838 $38.25
72 99231 Subsequent Hospital Care, Level 1 1,988,804 7,888,037 $300,472,315 $38.09
65 77063 3D Screening Mammogram 2,778,244 2,882,455 $109,064,509 $37.84
166 92557 Comprehensive Hearing Assessment 1,100,221 1,194,352 $44,887,730 $37.58
243 88313 Special Histochemical Stain 703,177 1,584,664 $59,073,268 $37.28
437 93308 — 285,945 349,931 $12,966,955 $37.06
505 82670 — 223,860 310,240 $11,440,459 $36.88
79 92133 Optic Nerve Imaging by Optical Coherence Tomography 2,360,395 2,659,802 $93,148,906 $35.02
228 84403 Total Testosterone Test 741,772 1,115,347 $38,215,913 $34.26
495 84402 — 233,594 314,592 $10,666,474 $33.91
186 94729 Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity Test 995,893 1,086,768 $36,702,480 $33.77
298 97113 — 71,116 1,728,327 $57,787,697 $33.44
390 94727 — 338,453 364,361 $11,899,054 $32.66
263 94726 Pulmonary Lung Volume Study 607,244 652,929 $21,119,550 $32.35
49 97530 Daily-Activity Therapy 988,681 12,453,961 $394,523,125 $31.68
207 11720 Debridement of Nails 861,007 2,110,681 $65,745,500 $31.15
402 74230 — 325,484 384,965 $11,979,074 $31.12
291 92225 — Retired after Q4 2019 517,297 855,560 $25,951,003 $30.33
374 96367 — 156,455 1,482,250 $44,923,969 $30.31
51 97112 Balance and Coordination Therapy 1,099,203 12,486,880 $377,798,061 $30.26
220 72110 Multi-View Lumbar Spine Radiograph 818,955 915,369 $27,588,878 $30.14
417 97535 Self-Care and Home Management Training 309,923 1,360,013 $40,306,500 $29.64
491 73565 — 236,648 272,922 $8,063,048 $29.54
197 94010 Spirometry 922,824 1,268,030 $37,101,042 $29.26
536 76882 — 205,114 263,306 $7,685,954 $29.19
217 92226 — Retired after Q4 2019 824,463 2,174,858 $63,368,931 $29.14
515 94762 — 218,562 242,968 $7,030,855 $28.94
359 72050 — 381,381 422,007 $11,726,412 $27.79
408 93320 — 322,396 351,978 $9,574,586 $27.20
226 92020 Gonioscopy 773,890 883,681 $23,808,177 $26.94
131 98940 Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation 819,215 6,115,827 $164,728,286 $26.93
15 97110 Physical Therapy Exercises 2,646,174 55,251,270 $1,485,089,437 $26.88
163 73564 Complete Knee Radiograph Study 1,108,900 1,497,663 $40,234,705 $26.86
377 93227 — 358,954 387,351 $10,186,018 $26.30
469 82378 — 261,198 568,978 $14,458,127 $25.41
320 86334 Immunofixation Electrophoresis 429,501 702,493 $17,707,354 $25.21
412 84154 — 319,841 394,933 $9,732,538 $24.64
82 84153 Prostate-Specific Antigen Test 2,262,809 3,232,936 $79,574,733 $24.61
76 77080 Central Bone Density Study 2,437,173 2,533,846 $62,207,117 $24.55
107 73562 Knee Radiograph 1,694,333 2,469,183 $59,978,026 $24.29
58 96372 Therapeutic Injection Administration 2,988,336 9,602,741 $228,738,306 $23.82
395 77001 — 330,869 414,527 $9,768,553 $23.57
486 86235 — 242,278 1,350,899 $31,554,496 $23.36
32 97140 Hands-On Physical Therapy 1,990,658 26,644,178 $622,049,306 $23.35
424 90471 — 302,434 323,607 $7,435,163 $22.98
449 83090 — 270,533 345,835 $7,834,279 $22.65
88 73502 Hip and Pelvis Radiograph 2,014,748 2,794,460 $63,207,446 $22.62
11 84443 Thyroid Blood Test 10,016,448 15,127,964 $340,287,336 $22.49
393 83861 — 334,836 855,455 $18,936,151 $22.14
362 97116 Gait Training 239,734 2,105,353 $46,293,879 $21.99
520 83921 — 214,069 341,719 $7,466,983 $21.85
195 84481 Free Triiodothyronine Test 928,585 1,355,051 $29,575,209 $21.83
533 82533 — 207,479 282,454 $6,156,446 $21.80
499 92550 — 228,652 246,617 $5,361,249 $21.74
518 96375 — 179,008 1,413,451 $30,700,364 $21.72
169 93016 Cardiovascular Stress Test Supervision 1,088,214 1,117,793 $24,217,931 $21.67
487 86800 — 241,476 305,614 $6,432,983 $21.05
112 72100 Lumbar Spine Radiograph 1,616,304 2,026,561 $42,589,248 $21.02
329 82274 — 420,364 451,650 $9,387,496 $20.78
238 73110 Wrist Radiograph 715,489 1,086,472 $22,458,791 $20.67
428 73140 — 298,494 399,718 $8,141,910 $20.37
55 82607 Vitamin B12 Laboratory Test 3,053,005 4,010,550 $81,049,201 $20.21
280 72040 — 553,570 693,450 $13,963,699 $20.14
101 73630 Foot Radiograph 1,782,150 2,794,406 $56,046,898 $20.06
315 73620 — 444,888 665,450 $13,335,347 $20.04
434 72070 — 291,463 339,992 $6,812,301 $20.04
108 82746 Folate Laboratory Test 1,683,415 2,176,868 $42,666,215 $19.60
406 86376 — 323,022 387,315 $7,498,311 $19.36
128 51798 Bladder Residual Urine Measurement 1,369,973 2,106,421 $40,774,431 $19.36
137 99211 Established Patient Office Visit, Level 1 1,298,309 3,850,575 $73,590,037 $19.11
132 73560 Limited Knee Radiograph Study 1,346,886 1,986,207 $37,816,203 $19.04
210 88304 Surgical Pathology Examination, Level III 857,634 1,034,614 $19,538,611 $18.88
241 86803 — 710,132 763,044 $14,392,978 $18.86
278 84480 — 563,898 783,603 $14,699,603 $18.76
203 73610 Ankle Radiograph 893,225 1,334,086 $24,903,686 $18.67
91 73030 Shoulder Radiograph 1,975,592 2,780,655 $51,729,271 $18.60
545 73600 — 194,898 270,432 $5,022,884 $18.57
508 86225 — 222,128 272,768 $5,005,215 $18.35
432 71101 — 293,369 323,357 $5,910,766 $18.28
419 92285 — 309,351 375,770 $6,864,518 $18.27
204 73130 Hand Radiograph 870,599 1,231,717 $22,493,723 $18.26
110 82728 Ferritin Laboratory Test 1,675,852 2,735,797 $49,850,830 $18.22
543 83883 — 196,138 582,505 $10,361,307 $17.79
540 71100 — 197,709 227,189 $4,024,581 $17.71
389 74022 — 342,550 415,213 $7,213,793 $17.37
338 86141 — 408,674 549,274 $9,537,776 $17.36
523 83520 — 212,672 577,115 $10,020,556 $17.36
444 86200 — 272,252 303,305 $5,248,662 $17.30
302 94640 — 490,441 658,675 $11,398,207 $17.30
438 73501 — 285,712 360,215 $6,202,541 $17.22
23 93000 Heart Tracing 7,660,067 11,727,995 $197,930,720 $16.88
247 86038 Antinuclear Antibody Test 689,070 790,553 $12,779,752 $16.17
239 84165 Serum Protein Electrophoresis 714,239 1,141,546 $18,369,218 $16.09
398 73080 — 328,395 404,858 $6,502,753 $16.06
232 72170 Pelvis Radiograph 729,614 842,186 $13,386,676 $15.90
547 72072 — 194,808 210,422 $3,323,762 $15.80
285 76937 — 523,986 670,278 $10,585,791 $15.79
261 87804 Influenza Antigen Test 610,727 1,122,531 $17,177,799 $15.30
517 83525 — 217,714 302,428 $4,615,075 $15.26
277 87880 Streptococcus Antigen Test 564,364 635,281 $9,625,048 $15.15
355 73552 — 387,649 562,538 $8,372,280 $14.88
391 83516 — 338,242 693,284 $10,225,311 $14.75
140 93018 Cardiovascular Stress Test Interpretation 1,268,538 1,306,663 $19,052,901 $14.58
501 86706 — 225,951 240,681 $3,448,962 $14.33
9 80061 Cholesterol Blood Panel 12,624,269 19,287,661 $276,055,166 $14.31
231 92567 Tympanometry 734,366 829,671 $11,803,351 $14.23
311 76514 — 458,520 490,163 $6,857,625 $13.99
289 88311 — 521,368 653,840 $9,139,179 $13.98
442 73060 — 275,854 375,478 $5,231,943 $13.93
368 80305 — 368,054 825,812 $11,316,289 $13.70
425 87340 — 301,067 324,942 $4,410,137 $13.57
530 76376 — 209,946 245,142 $3,316,154 $13.53
383 99406 — 348,926 541,348 $7,267,625 $13.43
343 73590 — 403,401 536,494 $7,060,857 $13.16
21 83036 Average Blood Sugar Test 8,013,355 14,783,785 $191,585,190 $12.96
255 83721 — 628,616 913,901 $11,556,039 $12.64
373 51741 — 360,440 468,088 $5,883,841 $12.57
218 95165 Allergen Immunotherapy Preparation 197,731 7,116,151 $87,722,690 $12.33
526 73090 — 210,443 256,368 $3,081,440 $12.02
48 84439 Free T4 Thyroid Test 3,461,674 5,112,917 $61,409,602 $12.01
264 87070 — 606,325 761,925 $8,802,405 $11.55
118 83550 Iron-Binding Capacity Test 1,434,109 2,262,131 $25,928,749 $11.46
111 87186 Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing 1,648,151 2,885,152 $32,887,099 $11.40
5 80053 Full Metabolic Blood Panel 14,348,207 28,894,909 $315,447,842 $10.92
53 87086 Urine Culture 3,069,232 5,225,765 $56,373,211 $10.79
115 87088 Urine Culture Identification 1,514,062 2,394,340 $25,507,098 $10.65
378 11719 — 356,578 963,083 $9,971,109 $10.35
130 87077 Microorganism Identification From Culture 1,351,062 2,155,899 $22,255,488 $10.32
366 97035 — 371,036 2,386,202 $24,585,823 $10.30
286 80069 Renal Function Panel 522,647 1,029,895 $10,595,190 $10.29
8 85025 Blood Cell Count With Differential 13,299,517 29,771,625 $306,121,115 $10.28
39 80048 Basic Metabolic Blood Panel 4,132,874 7,409,354 $71,271,294 $9.62
352 83690 — 392,237 495,081 $4,493,275 $9.08
172 84436 Total Thyroxine Test 1,055,429 1,419,685 $12,862,182 $9.06
105 83735 Magnesium Laboratory Test 1,716,990 3,156,643 $28,210,615 $8.94
369 82150 — 366,252 477,871 $4,145,536 $8.68
99 83540 Iron Laboratory Test 1,798,157 2,882,491 $24,797,203 $8.60
81 85027 Blood Cell Count 2,266,179 3,466,305 $29,650,431 $8.55
17 93010 Heart Tracing Reading 8,585,819 19,469,842 $165,419,530 $8.50
272 84479 — 571,369 769,715 $6,516,580 $8.47
350 93005 — 393,941 454,938 $3,678,964 $8.09
376 85730 — 360,199 504,494 $4,052,842 $8.03
288 86431 — 522,131 604,346 $4,590,483 $7.60
307 93325 Echocardiographic Color Flow Mapping 470,382 544,560 $4,107,456 $7.54
160 80076 Hepatic Function Panel 1,109,397 1,758,340 $13,122,952 $7.46
528 93042 — 210,359 374,155 $2,719,692 $7.27
67 82043 Urine Albumin Test 2,751,269 3,644,596 $25,562,570 $7.01
57 82570 Urine Creatinine Test 3,027,969 4,556,620 $31,332,061 $6.88
142 86140 C-Reactive Protein Test 1,235,611 2,140,922 $14,609,744 $6.82
258 95004 — 194,977 10,886,081 $72,156,316 $6.63
483 86592 — 244,849 279,900 $1,598,501 $5.71
458 87205 — 266,324 342,215 $1,887,827 $5.52
460 85045 — 266,187 366,568 $1,962,437 $5.35
61 17003 Additional Premalignant Skin Lesion Destruction 2,936,384 18,584,883 $98,840,953 $5.32
331 82044 — 416,370 542,058 $2,852,892 $5.26
116 85610 Prothrombin Time Test 1,504,728 11,601,062 $60,901,703 $5.25
275 84156 Urine Protein Test 567,146 974,831 $4,781,691 $4.91
159 82550 Creatine Kinase Test 1,120,114 1,717,358 $8,374,892 $4.88
250 85651 — 647,366 1,055,409 $5,000,309 $4.74
346 82270 — 397,430 398,259 $1,716,696 $4.31
447 80051 — 271,085 401,744 $1,713,712 $4.27
233 83615 Lactate Dehydrogenase Test 718,419 1,721,431 $7,309,583 $4.25
35 81001 Urine Test With Microscope Exam 4,532,007 7,230,786 $30,667,753 $4.24
184 81000 — 1,003,443 1,712,853 $7,236,128 $4.22
215 82947 — 836,386 1,613,202 $6,295,452 $3.90
201 84460 Alanine Aminotransferase Test 908,550 1,785,447 $6,914,410 $3.87
95 84550 Uric Acid Laboratory Test 1,961,173 3,200,957 $12,184,303 $3.81
135 85652 Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Test 1,299,452 2,038,347 $7,353,765 $3.61
341 82977 — 404,393 685,909 $2,468,181 $3.60
75 81002 Manual Urinalysis 2,469,380 3,821,898 $12,911,553 $3.38
154 82565 Blood Creatinine Test 1,129,568 1,757,128 $5,815,860 $3.31
364 84132 — 373,877 560,659 $1,777,946 $3.17
202 84100 Phosphorus Laboratory Test 897,338 1,716,190 $5,430,391 $3.16
422 85018 — 305,047 552,316 $1,739,781 $3.15
236 82962 — 715,825 1,757,135 $5,384,243 $3.06
335 82310 — 413,938 591,449 $1,793,324 $3.03
45 81003 Automated Urinalysis 3,892,857 6,279,567 $18,814,308 $3.00
3 36415 Blood Draw 17,589,870 50,090,087 $146,785,330 $2.93
318 84155 — 432,852 588,555 $1,684,980 $2.86
229 84450 — 735,591 1,142,365 $2,710,620 $2.37
214 82248 Direct Bilirubin Test 837,436 1,277,124 $2,817,351 $2.21
372 82040 — 364,428 556,574 $1,111,838 $2.00
253 84520 — 635,653 945,043 $1,862,912 $1.97
519 84295 — 215,275 333,609 $624,508 $1.87
396 84075 — 330,131 484,116 $809,744 $1.67
450 82247 — 269,749 445,052 $690,819 $1.55

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 7,809 CPT codes billed to Medicare in CY2017, 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 56.4% of the $80.9B these 500 codes account for.

  1. 1 99214 Long Follow-Up Office Visit $10.2B
  2. 2 99213 Routine Follow-Up Office Visit $6.6B
  3. 3 99232 Daily Hospital Visit $3.4B
  4. 4 99233 Extended Daily Hospital Visit $2.4B
  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 97110 Physical Therapy Exercises $1.5B
  10. 10 92014 Full Eye Exam, Returning Patient $1.5B

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
#27
By allowed dollars
#382
Per service
$3.00
Few patients, lots of money
37225 Leg Artery Plaque Removal With Balloon Widening
By beneficiaries
#474
By allowed dollars
#59
Per service
$5,510.05

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

These are CY2017 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.

19 codes on this list have since left the fee schedule. They were billed heavily in CY2017 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 7,809 CPT codes billed to Medicare in CY2017; this table shows the top 500 we cover.

Source: CMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners—by Geography and Service, national rows, CY2017. 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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