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

Medicare's 500 most-billed CPT codes of 2020

In CY2020 Medicare paid $74.6B across these 500 CPT codes. 99214 (Long Follow-Up Office Visit) leads every measure: 25.0M beneficiaries and $9.1B 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
$74.6B
Total Medicare allowed dollars
Services
1.1B
Times these codes were billed
Top 25
54.6%
Share of the allowed dollars
Vintage
CY2020
Medicare fee-for-service only

All 500 codes, ranked Copy link

Sorted by allowed dollars. 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 24,977,726 88,750,316 $9,124,555,169 $102.81
2 99213 Routine Follow-Up Office Visit 23,189,044 76,060,527 $5,387,507,824 $70.83
4 99232 Daily Hospital Visit 3,995,847 39,674,662 $2,894,572,763 $72.96
6 99233 Extended Daily Hospital Visit 3,346,125 24,578,565 $2,600,769,197 $105.81
8 99223 Extended Hospital Admission Visit 3,826,379 9,478,757 $1,940,126,470 $204.68
9 66984 Cataract Surgery 958,817 7,498,575 $1,661,670,850 $221.60
12 99285 Emergency Visit, Highest Urgency 5,647,089 9,264,177 $1,612,707,004 $174.08
14 99291 Critical Care 1,822,169 6,268,263 $1,420,178,476 $226.57
16 99204 Long New Patient Office Visit 7,021,238 8,714,480 $1,384,474,511 $158.87
13 92014 Full Eye Exam, Returning Patient 8,166,499 10,350,041 $1,312,199,118 $126.78
19 97110 Physical Therapy Exercises 2,369,643 48,667,429 $1,260,063,666 $25.89
20 99215 Longest Follow-Up Office Visit 5,023,330 8,686,203 $1,191,595,500 $137.18
17 99203 New Patient Office Visit 7,696,180 9,443,980 $971,589,067 $102.88
21 88305 Biopsy Tissue Examination 6,570,652 16,846,538 $856,140,785 $50.82
23 99309 Extended Nursing Home Visit 1,652,173 9,882,931 $850,413,300 $86.05
25 93306 Heart Ultrasound 5,582,999 6,410,689 $783,070,891 $122.15
26 99222 Hospital Admission Visit 2,788,763 5,381,895 $748,480,320 $139.07
27 90837 Extended Therapy Session 515,688 6,091,824 $720,916,475 $118.34
30 99308 Nursing Home Visit 1,654,258 10,700,463 $713,418,866 $66.67
32 90960 Monthly Dialysis Care, Frequent Visits 296,371 2,174,866 $633,394,811 $291.23
33 97530 Daily-Activity Therapy 1,150,598 17,001,335 $615,400,666 $36.20
35 97140 Hands-On Physical Therapy 1,740,700 22,940,899 $526,436,726 $22.95
37 97112 Balance and Coordination Therapy 1,256,893 16,192,388 $506,855,808 $31.30
38 99239 Extended Hospital Discharge Visit 3,094,970 4,565,946 $491,142,521 $107.57
40 99284 Emergency Visit, High Urgency 2,964,233 4,008,718 $473,192,617 $118.04
41 99205 Longest New Patient Office Visit 2,105,216 2,363,899 $471,529,577 $199.47
42 98941 Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation, Multiple Regions 1,243,768 11,584,052 $469,161,663 $40.50
45 27447 Knee Replacement 233,984 418,901 $460,772,568 $1,099.96
47 92012 Established Patient Eye Examination, Intermediate 2,891,327 5,015,408 $452,671,975 $90.26
48 17311 Mohs Skin Cancer Surgery, First Stage 578,395 759,802 $424,163,560 $558.26
50 78815 PET/CT Scan, Skull Base to Thigh 452,411 650,786 $394,884,849 $606.78
31 77067 Screening Mammogram 5,162,632 5,412,082 $388,270,000 $71.74
52 45385 Colonoscopy With Polyp Removal 764,840 1,126,678 $380,769,508 $337.96
54 74177 Abdomen and Pelvis CT With Contrast 2,318,988 3,160,941 $376,773,527 $119.20
28 99212 Brief Follow-Up Office Visit 5,436,932 8,835,278 $374,244,516 $42.36
56 78452 Myocardial Perfusion Imaging 1,358,456 1,412,775 $369,882,143 $261.81
57 67028 Intravitreal Medication Injection 652,667 3,287,314 $362,367,651 $110.23
59 90834 Standard Therapy Session 534,654 4,420,315 $359,988,326 $81.44
43 99442 Phone Consultation Retired after Q4 2024 3,657,431 5,256,344 $349,749,553 $66.54
61 99443 Extended Phone Consultation Retired after Q4 2024 2,334,696 3,375,211 $328,992,593 $97.47
63 37229 Leg Artery Plaque Removal Retired after Q4 2025 28,510 39,686 $322,833,315 $8,134.69
64 20610 Major Joint Injection or Aspiration 2,388,913 4,646,505 $292,847,212 $63.03
5 80053 Full Metabolic Blood Panel 13,354,836 26,182,143 $274,166,772 $10.47
69 63685 Spinal Cord Stimulator Battery Placement 25,358 41,909 $272,569,802 $6,503.85
70 45380 Colonoscopy With Tissue Sampling 818,592 1,183,423 $272,233,624 $230.04
55 92134 Retina Scan 2,980,862 6,542,650 $264,986,002 $40.50
71 43239 Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy With Tissue Sampling 1,079,405 1,564,894 $257,267,719 $164.40
73 96413 Intravenous Antineoplastic Infusion Administration 249,025 1,833,851 $256,236,631 $139.73
44 17000 Precancerous Skin Spot Removal 3,586,006 5,075,174 $255,995,165 $50.44
76 92004 New Patient Eye Examination, Comprehensive 1,617,485 1,686,087 $251,062,096 $148.90
78 93229 Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Analysis 271,667 281,691 $249,743,310 $886.59
74 11102 Skin Biopsy, Initial Lesion 2,273,201 2,846,214 $247,414,272 $86.93
75 11721 Debridement of Multiple Nails 2,223,515 5,311,763 $242,921,441 $45.73
81 17110 Destruction of Benign Skin Lesions 1,707,337 2,225,357 $232,681,889 $104.56
83 99220 — Retired after Q4 2022 1,061,410 1,256,140 $231,546,148 $184.33
84 37225 Leg Artery Plaque Removal With Balloon Widening Retired after Q4 2025 32,722 41,729 $231,339,118 $5,543.85
86 37227 Leg Artery Plaque Removal With Stent Retired after Q4 2025 17,890 21,700 $229,480,992 $10,575.16
88 93880 Carotid Artery Duplex Study 1,658,066 1,818,269 $229,008,431 $125.95
89 66821 Laser Treatment of the Posterior Lens Capsule 436,047 1,167,145 $228,706,999 $195.95
91 64483 Lumbar or Sacral Transforaminal Epidural Injection 429,160 929,955 $227,851,064 $245.01
10 80061 Cholesterol Blood Panel 11,671,134 17,034,099 $226,167,241 $13.28
93 27130 Total Hip Arthroplasty 142,566 244,949 $224,220,434 $915.38
11 84443 Thyroid Blood Test 9,097,684 13,433,116 $224,049,845 $16.68
97 99231 Subsequent Hospital Care, Level 1 1,507,125 5,657,296 $221,383,334 $39.13
98 36902 Dialysis Circuit Endovascular Treatment 114,150 219,696 $218,784,735 $995.85
53 70450 Head CT Without Contrast 3,233,599 4,844,019 $218,184,938 $45.04
101 99310 Subsequent Nursing Facility Care, Level 4 576,906 1,672,830 $209,635,138 $125.32
7 85025 Blood Cell Count With Differential 12,185,157 26,164,839 $201,439,532 $7.70
109 74176 Abdomen and Pelvis CT Without Contrast 1,587,337 2,017,307 $201,341,243 $99.81
110 99490 Chronic Care Management 964,550 4,760,783 $196,794,120 $41.34
112 78492 Cardiac PET Scan, Multiple Studies 138,398 153,323 $188,925,994 $1,232.21
113 77427 Radiation Treatment Management 230,389 959,205 $188,171,878 $196.17
115 99306 Initial Nursing Facility Care, Level 3 809,600 1,082,719 $183,448,804 $169.43
118 17312 Mohs Surgery, Additional Stage 285,945 457,614 $180,485,398 $394.41
120 87798 Infectious-Agent Molecular Detection 501,525 5,174,716 $180,115,604 $34.81
34 82306 Vitamin D Blood Test 4,366,622 5,801,733 $170,387,455 $29.37
95 71250 Chest CT Without Contrast 1,729,654 2,192,458 $168,592,224 $76.90
36 77063 3D Screening Mammogram 4,190,169 4,396,089 $167,197,629 $38.03
124 00142 Anesthesia for Lens Surgery 809,388 1,583,417 $164,203,194 $103.70
126 66982 Complex Cataract Surgery With Lens Implant 110,785 478,349 $163,724,745 $342.27
128 11042 Subcutaneous Tissue Wound Debridement 462,129 1,879,615 $163,033,898 $86.74
130 90961 Monthly Dialysis Care, Fewer Visits 221,427 667,792 $161,535,515 $241.89
132 72148 Lumbar Spine MRI Without Contrast 1,081,277 1,240,856 $161,487,949 $130.14
133 70553 Brain MRI With and Without Contrast 735,133 912,896 $158,381,458 $173.49
22 93000 Heart Tracing 6,305,971 9,114,177 $158,210,619 $17.36
111 99497 Advance Care Planning 1,618,539 1,918,514 $157,680,696 $82.19
82 99202 New Patient Office Visit, Level 2 2,088,911 2,193,433 $156,438,727 $71.32
137 00731 Anesthesia for Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 871,166 1,355,942 $155,363,383 $114.58
138 52000 Diagnostic Cystoscopy 636,519 833,550 $154,238,641 $185.04
140 64635 Lumbar or Sacral Facet Nerve Ablation 174,514 346,473 $153,804,067 $443.91
24 71045 Chest X-Ray, One View 5,611,503 15,531,228 $151,453,077 $9.75
143 80307 Presumptive Drug Screening 965,934 2,473,416 $151,316,491 $61.18
146 99221 Initial Hospital Care, Level 1 1,096,364 1,470,466 $149,609,359 $101.74
87 92083 Comprehensive Visual Field Examination 2,059,948 2,366,303 $147,675,558 $62.41
117 99238 Hospital Discharge Visit 1,563,502 1,998,492 $146,137,702 $73.12
149 77301 Intensity-Modulated Radiation Treatment Planning 132,862 147,736 $138,627,619 $938.35
150 64493 Lumbar or Sacral Facet Joint Injection 290,606 629,849 $137,968,007 $219.05
151 90832 Brief Therapy Session 427,821 2,261,234 $137,878,055 $60.97
18 93010 Heart Tracing Reading 7,229,595 15,897,585 $137,807,391 $8.67
152 99496 Transitional Care After Discharge, Prompt Contact 515,614 593,360 $137,303,223 $231.40
141 93970 Bilateral Extremity Venous Duplex Study 1,199,157 1,434,689 $135,976,305 $94.78
154 62323 Lumbar or Sacral Epidural Injection 369,960 701,250 $135,972,395 $193.90
134 71260 Chest CT With Contrast 1,263,312 1,791,359 $133,564,729 $74.56
68 92250 Fundus Photography 2,538,279 2,983,277 $132,896,929 $44.55
161 99349 Established Patient Home or Residence Visit, Level 3 291,140 1,089,811 $132,693,950 $121.76
162 29827 Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair 60,390 117,443 $130,551,686 $1,111.62
15 83036 Average Blood Sugar Test 7,706,578 13,268,421 $127,615,574 $9.62
119 99283 Emergency Department Visit, Level 3 1,534,663 1,984,015 $126,569,265 $63.79
164 00811 Anesthesia for Lower Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 885,882 1,150,237 $126,049,599 $109.59
148 71275 Chest CT Angiography 1,098,046 1,263,604 $124,909,259 $98.85
127 88342 Immunohistochemistry Study, Initial Antibody 1,369,408 2,076,982 $123,709,232 $59.56
167 11056 Paring of Multiple Benign Foot Lesions 731,573 1,675,682 $123,228,856 $73.54
170 98940 Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation 605,651 4,330,552 $123,177,281 $28.44
3 36415 Blood Draw 15,965,174 41,380,550 $123,040,329 $2.97
29 71046 Chest X-Ray, Two Views 5,188,610 7,336,595 $120,488,564 $16.42
174 92928 Coronary Artery Stent Procedure 166,893 206,550 $116,691,500 $564.96
175 17004 Destruction of Multiple Premalignant Skin Lesions 517,300 745,616 $116,287,855 $155.96
178 93458 Coronary Angiography and Left Heart Catheterization 393,132 413,060 $113,992,520 $275.97
181 93925 Bilateral Lower-Extremity Arterial Duplex Study 509,266 607,022 $109,793,408 $180.87
182 36475 Radiofrequency Treatment of an Incompetent Extremity Vein 45,171 81,149 $106,346,142 $1,310.50
171 70551 Brain MRI Without Contrast 922,937 1,028,257 $106,169,005 $103.25
72 96372 Therapeutic Injection Administration 2,279,458 7,679,239 $105,382,607 $13.72
185 27245 Surgical Fixation of a Proximal Femur Fracture 78,609 103,694 $104,822,730 $1,010.89
187 00790 Anesthesia for Upper Abdominal Surgery 270,042 403,398 $104,803,810 $259.80
155 97161 Physical Therapy Evaluation 1,052,177 1,188,031 $103,828,060 $87.40
190 99305 Initial Nursing Facility Care, Level 2 621,517 793,327 $103,219,256 $130.11
191 11043 Muscle and Fascia Wound Debridement 132,282 513,374 $102,510,874 $199.68
192 99495 Transitional Care After Discharge 534,872 592,378 $102,457,568 $172.96
193 00670 Anesthesia for Spine Surgery 151,472 229,142 $100,276,628 $437.62
196 74178 Abdomen and Pelvis CT With and Without Contrast 440,221 510,259 $96,642,569 $189.40
197 01402 Anesthesia for Knee Arthroplasty 253,251 381,053 $95,206,694 $249.85
199 90966 Monthly Home Dialysis Services 57,394 393,967 $94,541,988 $239.97
62 17003 Additional Premalignant Skin Lesion Destruction 2,687,392 16,341,353 $94,273,242 $5.77
202 95165 Allergen Immunotherapy Preparation 182,221 6,672,102 $94,194,479 $14.12
204 88312 Special Stain for Microorganisms 683,558 1,347,834 $93,439,191 $69.33
205 23472 Total Shoulder Arthroplasty 56,711 92,932 $92,898,936 $999.64
168 97162 Detailed Physical Therapy Evaluation 938,815 1,052,324 $92,112,943 $87.53
208 90833 Psychotherapy With Evaluation and Management 356,263 1,360,960 $91,737,157 $67.41
211 99307 Subsequent Nursing Facility Care, Level 1 640,973 2,079,814 $89,785,168 $43.17
213 33533 Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting 46,832 75,839 $89,758,736 $1,183.54
214 90791 Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation 630,405 707,307 $89,074,953 $125.94
215 63047 Lumbar Spine Decompression Surgery 83,488 139,372 $88,952,620 $638.24
217 31231 Diagnostic Nasal Endoscopy 340,769 476,605 $88,531,295 $185.75
219 73721 Lower-Extremity Joint MRI Without Contrast 502,134 623,823 $87,114,408 $139.65
221 96365 Intravenous Therapeutic Infusion Administration 274,175 1,195,982 $85,584,301 $71.56
223 88307 Surgical Pathology Examination, Level V 527,331 905,524 $85,437,029 $94.35
85 92133 Optic Nerve Imaging by Optical Coherence Tomography 2,085,729 2,332,366 $83,811,031 $35.93
226 20611 Ultrasound-Guided Major Joint Injection or Aspiration 413,020 832,225 $81,868,497 $98.37
227 45378 Diagnostic Colonoscopy 289,440 368,421 $81,633,950 $221.58
103 99441 — Retired after Q4 2024 1,693,626 2,136,114 $81,593,665 $38.20
144 93971 Unilateral Extremity Venous Duplex Study 1,170,529 1,484,953 $79,328,083 $53.42
230 17313 Mohs Surgery on Trunk or Extremities, First Stage 111,136 141,380 $78,885,358 $557.97
165 99217 — Retired after Q4 2022 963,965 1,087,807 $78,161,398 $71.85
233 36482 Adhesive Treatment of an Incompetent Extremity Vein 21,472 40,356 $76,945,451 $1,906.67
238 99350 Established Patient Home or Residence Visit, Level 4 156,277 454,159 $76,369,875 $168.16
239 36903 — 17,641 22,876 $75,790,505 $3,313.10
153 76770 Complete Retroperitoneal Ultrasound 1,056,079 1,219,597 $75,438,005 $61.85
241 36905 — 25,739 44,693 $74,660,264 $1,670.51
243 00813 Anesthesia for Combined Upper and Lower Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 425,088 551,010 $74,566,826 $135.33
245 13132 Complex Skin Wound Repair 218,680 255,782 $73,975,979 $289.21
247 12032 Intermediate Skin Wound Repair 254,434 285,648 $73,294,623 $256.59
90 99211 Established Patient Office Visit, Level 1 1,766,431 3,292,363 $71,825,690 $21.82
251 27236 — 54,941 77,544 $71,674,003 $924.30
252 77280 Radiation Treatment Simulation 121,048 355,505 $71,639,321 $201.51
255 90935 — 191,868 955,460 $71,282,664 $74.61
256 22551 Anterior Cervical Spine Fusion 33,548 55,888 $71,199,921 $1,273.98
258 64590 Peripheral Nerve Stimulator Battery Placement 11,980 15,998 $70,514,966 $4,407.74
261 95886 Needle Electromyography Study 448,766 774,865 $70,261,526 $90.68
262 64721 Open Carpal Tunnel Release 87,770 140,138 $70,190,088 $500.86
265 90792 Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation With Medical Services 430,702 493,184 $70,174,556 $142.29
266 74183 Abdominal MRI With and Without Contrast 292,933 353,586 $70,097,395 $198.25
268 36906 — 11,670 16,271 $68,431,589 $4,205.74
271 99292 — 271,877 596,963 $66,991,056 $112.22
272 95811 — 181,165 207,630 $66,959,932 $322.50
176 92136 Ophthalmic Biometry for Intraocular Lens Planning 900,661 1,479,883 $66,363,613 $44.84
273 22633 — 32,594 54,291 $66,194,610 $1,219.26
275 99219 — Retired after Q4 2022 444,348 489,424 $65,903,797 $134.66
276 97116 Gait Training 250,388 2,665,678 $65,835,712 $24.70
278 72141 Cervical Spine MRI Without Contrast 482,752 542,583 $65,544,422 $120.80
279 33361 Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement 43,662 82,260 $65,330,182 $794.19
280 77523 — 2,611 62,151 $65,134,644 $1,048.01
282 73221 Upper-Extremity Joint MRI Without Contrast 377,378 462,625 $65,066,139 $140.65
212 11103 Additional Skin Biopsy 721,060 1,263,197 $64,657,289 $51.19
156 72125 Cervical Spine CT Without Contrast 1,023,588 1,191,154 $63,719,340 $53.49
284 00840 — 182,067 267,242 $63,565,258 $237.86
286 33208 — 89,117 91,523 $63,333,605 $692.00
292 47562 — 81,737 101,301 $62,162,685 $613.64
216 76700 Complete Abdominal Ultrasound 694,693 794,350 $62,000,433 $78.05
94 73502 Hip and Pelvis Radiograph 1,738,109 2,414,132 $61,756,688 $25.58
207 76536 Neck Soft-Tissue Ultrasound 735,112 836,206 $61,095,333 $73.06
297 97535 Self-Care and Home Management Training 371,284 2,035,345 $59,451,079 $29.21
299 96401 Subcutaneous or Intramuscular Antineoplastic Injection Administration 136,521 750,702 $59,411,455 $79.14
302 93656 Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation 48,959 50,491 $58,870,365 $1,165.96
303 33249 — 34,901 35,957 $58,340,565 $1,622.51
305 01214 — 148,228 216,741 $57,651,052 $265.99
307 95810 — 173,513 190,300 $57,565,777 $302.50
309 77300 — 255,999 1,261,817 $57,305,565 $45.42
310 13121 — 154,781 183,541 $57,018,642 $310.66
312 97597 — 260,201 768,174 $55,866,034 $72.73
60 82607 Vitamin B12 Laboratory Test 2,848,155 3,731,342 $55,817,980 $14.96
166 69210 Impacted Earwax Removal 961,174 1,236,560 $55,803,154 $45.13
79 84153 Prostate-Specific Antigen Test 2,129,906 3,053,875 $55,678,540 $18.23
121 73630 Foot Radiograph 1,501,582 2,375,026 $55,599,601 $23.41
201 11720 Debridement of Nails 757,054 1,664,644 $55,375,455 $33.27
318 36465 Foam Sclerotherapy of an Incompetent Extremity Vein 19,211 35,027 $54,627,609 $1,559.59
125 73562 Knee Radiograph 1,389,496 1,997,125 $54,538,367 $27.31
321 31575 — 381,651 479,278 $54,473,151 $113.66
263 88313 Special Histochemical Stain 552,860 1,368,113 $54,343,005 $39.72
323 77338 — 131,901 166,718 $53,463,400 $320.68
324 65778 Ocular Surface Amniotic Membrane Placement 22,666 37,660 $53,367,062 $1,417.08
198 93015 Complete Cardiovascular Stress Test 777,511 797,073 $53,221,086 $66.77
96 73030 Shoulder Radiograph 1,725,949 2,450,578 $53,022,369 $21.64
267 77066 Bilateral Diagnostic Mammography 547,764 575,778 $52,026,776 $90.36
327 36561 — 116,882 124,285 $51,716,704 $416.11
329 68761 Lacrimal Punctum Closure 160,139 361,095 $51,625,961 $142.97
80 77080 Central Bone Density Study 2,112,992 2,202,300 $51,540,514 $23.40
333 87633 — 101,591 124,013 $51,218,774 $413.01
334 15260 — 47,521 55,507 $50,919,411 $917.35
336 67042 — 23,174 39,083 $50,709,937 $1,297.49
339 22514 — 20,460 22,463 $49,941,719 $2,223.29
288 70498 Neck CT Angiography 488,771 535,039 $49,213,493 $91.98
340 77263 — 258,949 280,273 $48,796,521 $174.10
49 80048 Basic Metabolic Blood Panel 3,401,452 5,820,561 $48,790,602 $8.38
295 70496 Head CT Angiography 465,915 513,881 $48,682,209 $94.73
341 64490 — 96,294 209,275 $47,794,071 $228.38
343 64636 — 162,983 403,361 $47,771,204 $118.43
345 62321 — 123,643 233,281 $47,515,842 $203.69
349 72197 Pelvic MRI With and Without Contrast 194,978 220,420 $47,109,463 $213.73
269 77065 Unilateral Diagnostic Mammography 545,911 665,995 $46,796,423 $70.27
351 26055 — 69,090 133,461 $46,310,552 $347.00
354 98942 — 99,370 836,759 $44,812,638 $53.56
355 22513 — 17,842 20,287 $44,730,890 $2,204.90
357 31500 — 260,373 298,745 $44,372,417 $148.53
356 76641 — 333,540 470,869 $44,338,083 $94.16
332 11055 — 400,893 717,785 $43,539,971 $60.66
363 29881 — 41,659 63,291 $43,452,737 $686.55
366 90836 — 90,188 477,600 $43,409,227 $90.89
51 84439 Free T4 Thyroid Test 3,310,419 4,844,324 $43,336,583 $8.95
369 78816 Whole-Body PET/CT Imaging 55,640 75,599 $43,213,848 $571.62
370 52442 — 24,353 97,583 $43,173,368 $442.43
189 76942 — 811,471 1,043,662 $43,163,457 $41.36
374 99348 Established Patient Home or Residence Visit, Level 2 202,705 522,469 $43,144,761 $82.58
375 88185 — 81,679 1,818,838 $42,817,407 $23.54
338 00812 Anesthesia for Lower Gastrointestinal Screening Endoscopy 385,782 486,208 $42,687,589 $87.80
378 22842 — 49,409 79,923 $42,533,059 $532.18
380 55700 — Retired after Q4 2025 130,535 153,040 $42,508,467 $277.76
382 43235 — 241,124 297,791 $42,505,763 $142.74
385 77290 — 151,237 189,119 $41,844,972 $221.26
159 73564 Complete Knee Radiograph Study 989,028 1,334,736 $41,760,725 $31.29
388 87801 — 205,139 596,303 $41,494,763 $69.59
391 64633 — 47,974 93,711 $41,348,879 $441.24
392 37228 — Retired after Q4 2025 28,303 33,262 $40,964,542 $1,231.57
393 01936 — Retired after Q4 2021 162,739 304,371 $40,943,897 $134.52
394 27096 — 199,145 278,904 $40,695,988 $145.91
399 77373 — 6,972 33,307 $40,024,815 $1,201.69
401 17262 — 209,193 264,997 $39,990,553 $150.91
403 25609 — 17,795 28,409 $39,966,597 $1,406.83
405 19301 — 49,946 61,272 $39,789,816 $649.40
407 01480 — 170,945 275,231 $39,718,076 $144.31
413 77002 — 255,226 469,205 $39,054,820 $83.24
415 87150 — 72,509 1,115,838 $38,853,397 $34.82
416 00400 — 193,041 312,184 $38,833,381 $124.39
419 97113 — 43,355 1,219,801 $38,582,994 $31.63
420 96367 — 135,532 1,231,971 $38,371,772 $31.15
421 36558 — 106,961 126,513 $38,366,864 $303.26
422 36478 — 21,276 37,194 $38,240,045 $1,028.12
186 76705 Limited Abdominal Ultrasound 833,369 972,053 $38,160,406 $39.26
425 72158 — 191,122 218,647 $38,150,592 $174.48
426 77295 — 113,761 130,351 $38,004,431 $291.55
131 72100 Lumbar Spine Radiograph 1,266,082 1,582,808 $37,449,649 $23.66
429 64494 — 258,818 397,924 $37,399,134 $93.99
431 00537 — 79,991 120,599 $37,367,302 $309.85
434 90962 — 85,682 198,902 $37,241,846 $187.24
107 82728 Ferritin Laboratory Test 1,670,294 2,751,613 $37,178,964 $13.51
179 92557 Comprehensive Hearing Assessment 886,558 954,460 $37,098,203 $38.87
437 01922 — 145,538 227,593 $37,058,435 $162.83
348 36556 — 349,963 422,618 $37,020,638 $87.60
442 50590 — 38,281 52,569 $36,850,646 $701.00
443 93978 — 220,422 250,799 $36,780,473 $146.65
361 99225 — Retired after Q4 2022 329,541 509,728 $36,632,150 $71.87
444 43249 — 91,558 134,102 $36,284,251 $270.57
446 99183 — 13,613 325,788 $36,219,692 $111.18
298 20550 — 459,291 722,624 $35,766,422 $49.50
447 00567 — 40,249 50,549 $35,600,691 $704.28
387 11104 — 295,840 318,244 $35,424,524 $111.31
448 01230 — 113,536 162,842 $35,287,216 $216.70
264 76642 Limited Breast Ultrasound 549,016 667,331 $35,213,119 $52.77
424 10060 — 266,142 302,314 $34,923,108 $115.52
452 88360 — 237,286 554,650 $34,913,504 $62.95
453 11730 — 243,105 325,812 $34,910,606 $107.15
455 29880 — 30,769 48,121 $34,909,368 $725.45
457 95816 Electroencephalography Study 209,306 229,626 $34,890,890 $151.95
432 92235 — 262,825 328,954 $34,644,217 $105.32
260 88112 Cytopathology Examination 557,606 832,074 $34,587,347 $41.57
463 64561 Sacral Nerve Stimulation Electrode Placement 8,256 14,505 $34,149,195 $2,354.31
67 87086 Urine Culture 2,612,971 4,250,429 $34,035,844 $8.01
465 67904 — 21,170 47,434 $33,874,906 $714.15
376 93923 — 311,508 369,044 $33,695,574 $91.31
472 93351 — 172,839 177,077 $33,592,636 $189.71
473 52601 — 37,588 40,195 $33,566,567 $835.09
285 93922 — 489,789 593,087 $33,429,389 $56.37
476 95004 — 139,790 7,780,230 $33,408,862 $4.29
379 99316 — 306,717 337,162 $33,368,831 $98.97
478 95819 — 148,418 164,431 $33,308,674 $202.57
480 35301 — 26,127 36,592 $33,251,712 $908.72
482 65855 — 83,524 149,485 $33,086,672 $221.34
484 00910 — 195,195 328,381 $33,019,438 $100.55
368 76830 — 325,582 373,571 $32,862,847 $87.97
487 19083 — 101,152 104,503 $32,836,044 $314.21
489 00300 — 124,941 192,458 $32,758,106 $170.21
491 01844 — 80,206 150,045 $32,745,424 $218.24
493 37226 — Retired after Q4 2025 20,232 22,319 $32,556,840 $1,458.71
257 83880 Natriuretic Peptide Test 565,419 834,749 $32,497,833 $38.93
495 90868 — 7,250 195,150 $32,298,791 $165.51
483 99226 — Retired after Q4 2022 228,274 307,315 $32,008,611 $104.16
498 93975 — 173,077 199,063 $31,968,719 $160.60
456 93312 — 241,375 281,293 $31,843,711 $113.20
502 67108 — 14,787 24,863 $31,654,728 $1,273.17
229 94060 Bronchodilator Responsiveness Testing 636,703 719,667 $31,593,164 $43.90
508 95911 — 138,915 144,201 $31,485,788 $218.35
509 00560 — 54,972 71,750 $31,405,799 $437.71
510 01992 — 130,672 256,835 $30,798,449 $119.92
512 28285 — 33,100 73,923 $30,570,618 $413.55
515 88377 — 57,755 153,489 $30,225,252 $196.92
518 22840 — 35,102 57,643 $29,676,059 $514.83
114 82746 Folate Laboratory Test 1,564,314 2,031,544 $29,637,194 $14.59
521 93460 — 74,554 75,884 $29,298,116 $386.09
526 00320 — 90,648 141,166 $29,041,087 $205.72
529 49650 — 41,612 55,433 $29,003,829 $523.22
330 70486 — 405,937 440,930 $28,997,351 $65.76
531 29828 — 17,756 33,589 $28,940,102 $861.59
533 52332 — 94,318 132,845 $28,926,832 $217.75
535 37231 — Retired after Q4 2025 2,408 2,927 $28,896,292 $9,872.32
536 00630 — 76,086 109,278 $28,793,558 $263.49
537 49083 — 64,787 253,363 $28,781,572 $113.60
163 73560 Limited Knee Radiograph Study 981,921 1,428,840 $28,710,524 $20.09
540 11602 — 181,701 213,671 $28,624,977 $133.97
542 55866 — 18,751 25,041 $28,614,574 $1,142.71
326 72131 Lumbar Spine CT Without Contrast 411,796 455,234 $28,585,155 $62.79
206 94729 Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity Test 740,085 796,195 $28,502,393 $35.80
544 49505 — 37,410 48,399 $28,343,722 $585.63
548 96133 — 104,502 286,552 $28,247,574 $98.58
504 88331 — 212,231 382,791 $28,150,133 $73.54
377 76856 — 309,183 356,318 $27,955,422 $78.46
556 36907 — 39,702 62,223 $27,893,566 $448.28
503 88173 — 212,470 308,909 $27,833,332 $90.10
530 64484 — 200,589 322,870 $27,186,236 $84.20
218 84403 Total Testosterone Test 691,507 1,063,638 $27,165,571 $25.54
157 85610 Prothrombin Time Test 1,008,933 6,317,839 $26,830,482 $4.25
404 97164 — 284,075 443,032 $26,620,341 $60.09
293 36620 — 477,703 538,009 $24,721,275 $45.95
147 74018 Abdominal Radiograph 1,156,547 2,051,724 $24,541,545 $11.96
195 73130 Hand Radiograph 785,193 1,122,706 $24,484,840 $21.81
477 86235 — 230,170 1,376,614 $24,356,692 $17.69
210 73610 Ankle Radiograph 730,570 1,112,609 $23,992,013 $21.56
342 87635 SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Detection 369,238 461,695 $23,352,642 $50.58
479 99304 — 229,204 253,336 $23,271,009 $91.86
507 70491 — 210,978 262,670 $23,201,077 $88.33
237 73110 Wrist Radiograph 618,480 968,632 $23,087,623 $23.84
557 72146 — 183,734 206,259 $22,405,753 $108.63
173 84481 Free Triiodothyronine Test 916,655 1,331,520 $22,355,592 $16.79
232 72110 Multi-View Lumbar Spine Radiograph 632,140 707,856 $22,120,415 $31.25
58 82570 Urine Creatinine Test 2,933,331 4,291,991 $22,026,981 $5.13
122 87186 Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing 1,413,360 2,552,962 $21,918,168 $8.59
418 73700 — 271,930 311,692 $21,086,704 $67.65
248 94010 Spirometry 587,433 740,591 $21,037,113 $28.41
105 83735 Magnesium Laboratory Test 1,681,887 3,125,929 $20,748,134 $6.64
499 97163 — 215,494 234,554 $20,448,463 $87.18
77 85027 Blood Cell Count 2,164,776 3,180,983 $20,404,428 $6.41
539 78306 — 193,820 228,048 $19,799,363 $86.82
242 92020 Gonioscopy 602,959 685,218 $19,732,670 $28.80
65 82043 Urine Albumin Test 2,615,908 3,415,679 $19,537,713 $5.72
123 83550 Iron-Binding Capacity Test 1,412,997 2,241,818 $19,424,476 $8.66
335 76775 — 399,551 449,593 $19,352,602 $43.04
39 81001 Urine Test With Microscope Exam 3,989,976 6,125,254 $19,246,052 $3.14
547 70544 — 189,911 202,647 $18,782,453 $92.69
92 83540 Iron Laboratory Test 1,744,586 2,820,742 $18,086,765 $6.41
381 87640 Staphylococcus aureus Molecular Detection 304,778 511,609 $17,850,428 $34.89
145 51798 Bladder Residual Urine Measurement 1,162,626 1,685,696 $17,662,061 $10.48
440 20605 — 259,365 363,071 $17,617,498 $48.52
200 93016 Cardiovascular Stress Test Supervision 765,550 782,417 $17,435,741 $22.28
296 94726 Pulmonary Lung Volume Study 465,491 496,293 $16,729,511 $33.71
270 87804 Influenza Antigen Test 539,549 1,035,130 $16,674,827 $16.11
551 93224 — 186,725 198,393 $16,672,612 $84.04
222 84165 Serum Protein Electrophoresis 678,676 1,146,953 $16,625,959 $14.50
497 97035 — 218,156 1,417,777 $16,261,456 $11.47
461 20600 — 237,577 358,427 $16,255,270 $45.35
225 88304 Surgical Pathology Examination, Level III 675,212 815,774 $16,144,293 $19.79
320 86334 Immunofixation Electrophoresis 430,764 764,541 $15,997,328 $20.92
129 87088 Urine Culture Identification 1,293,223 1,983,998 $15,927,664 $8.03
142 87077 Microorganism Identification From Culture 1,184,606 1,844,128 $14,780,012 $8.01
344 93308 — 357,865 441,200 $14,736,875 $33.40
172 93018 Cardiovascular Stress Test Interpretation 917,525 939,324 $14,104,269 $15.02
555 20552 — 183,973 285,028 $13,826,886 $48.51
308 72040 — 447,222 560,871 $13,223,463 $23.58
514 64447 — 206,231 238,887 $12,350,500 $51.70
99 84550 Uric Acid Laboratory Test 1,704,174 2,748,005 $12,299,296 $4.48
501 87651 — 214,912 349,808 $12,171,511 $34.79
459 99282 — 239,456 283,792 $12,092,774 $42.61
517 87581 — 205,989 347,209 $12,045,607 $34.69
513 83861 — 206,952 535,785 $11,931,989 $22.27
46 81003 Automated Urinalysis 3,460,542 5,361,713 $11,923,708 $2.22
520 87486 — 204,070 343,174 $11,913,085 $34.71
301 92202 — 455,801 670,741 $11,352,914 $16.93
231 92567 Tympanometry 635,435 705,165 $11,287,750 $16.01
287 76937 — 489,069 639,213 $11,251,253 $17.60
135 86140 C-Reactive Protein Test 1,254,594 2,150,747 $11,036,819 $5.13
386 92201 — 302,875 410,236 $10,953,485 $26.70
428 83520 — 264,277 640,080 $10,952,505 $17.11
188 80076 Hepatic Function Panel 821,862 1,293,820 $10,462,169 $8.09
534 76882 — 195,261 252,723 $10,319,231 $40.83
244 72170 Pelvis Radiograph 601,506 694,019 $10,191,493 $14.68
203 84460 Alanine Aminotransferase Test 745,251 1,949,021 $10,170,011 $5.22
406 72050 — 283,913 316,355 $10,018,458 $31.67
372 73620 — 313,055 463,967 $9,707,135 $20.92
471 82378 — 230,971 510,596 $9,590,790 $18.78
451 74230 — 246,916 286,629 $9,239,407 $32.23
492 82670 — 222,360 323,197 $8,945,413 $27.68
234 83615 Lactate Dehydrogenase Test 630,874 1,467,937 $8,756,802 $5.97
183 82550 Creatine Kinase Test 884,247 1,334,277 $8,602,415 $6.45
100 81002 Manual Urinalysis 1,702,269 2,498,682 $8,585,809 $3.44
314 84480 — 440,758 609,779 $8,580,181 $14.07
494 94727 — 221,004 234,541 $8,251,461 $35.18
283 80069 Renal Function Panel 503,188 959,935 $8,244,955 $8.59
450 73140 — 250,264 338,786 $8,073,306 $23.83
475 84402 — 230,249 319,953 $8,064,641 $25.21
184 84100 Phosphorus Laboratory Test 862,768 1,714,438 $8,031,905 $4.68
315 88311 — 436,465 567,539 $8,024,840 $14.14
350 73552 — 349,742 508,391 $7,916,466 $15.57
253 86038 Antinuclear Antibody Test 572,784 653,687 $7,834,079 $11.98
427 93320 — 264,796 292,054 $7,811,799 $26.75
402 80305 — 284,463 609,408 $7,517,095 $12.34
358 84154 — 333,390 407,123 $7,427,264 $18.24
470 77001 — 231,518 287,221 $7,225,149 $25.16
194 84436 Total Thyroxine Test 799,866 1,056,282 $7,201,563 $6.82
304 86803 — 452,058 496,059 $7,011,786 $14.13
294 83721 — 474,731 673,014 $7,002,955 $10.41
454 93227 — 245,112 258,629 $6,916,108 $26.74
395 83516 — 289,142 601,086 $6,860,179 $11.41
545 87624 — 191,353 196,734 $6,850,108 $34.82
417 92285 — 272,439 333,940 $6,814,086 $20.41
435 11719 — 260,739 618,816 $6,700,764 $10.83
177 82565 Blood Creatinine Test 889,819 1,332,694 $6,664,878 $5.00
408 99406 — 282,872 437,530 $6,253,033 $14.29
398 73080 — 286,040 359,323 $6,179,230 $17.20
359 73590 — 332,121 444,421 $6,111,943 $13.75
365 87880 Streptococcus Antigen Test 326,556 358,954 $5,786,584 $16.12
367 86141 — 325,833 429,640 $5,520,376 $12.85
541 93228 — 193,440 198,638 $5,418,646 $27.28
373 86376 — 312,162 374,987 $5,409,750 $14.43
136 85652 Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Test 1,244,371 1,996,683 $5,343,758 $2.68
474 72070 — 230,252 269,865 $5,320,961 $19.72
423 74019 — 266,831 341,452 $5,299,263 $15.52
481 71101 — 228,966 255,274 $5,211,172 $20.41
220 82248 Direct Bilirubin Test 688,550 1,033,467 $5,087,841 $4.92
306 87070 — 448,714 560,547 $4,791,347 $8.55
466 73060 — 232,170 317,654 $4,748,817 $14.95
414 82274 — 274,064 294,353 $4,634,821 $15.75
523 83090 — 203,878 257,629 $4,583,444 $17.79
485 86800 — 225,995 286,325 $4,517,134 $15.78
532 73501 — 195,513 243,370 $4,352,767 $17.89
347 76514 — 350,520 374,000 $4,309,939 $11.52
254 84450 — 567,236 853,783 $4,307,353 $5.05
259 82947 — 565,181 1,035,052 $4,014,764 $3.88
550 94640 — 186,978 234,517 $3,991,392 $17.02
433 51741 — 260,809 327,183 $3,768,289 $11.52
246 84156 Urine Protein Test 594,535 1,030,159 $3,745,570 $3.64
543 84466 — 193,381 294,729 $3,722,326 $12.63
250 81000 — 580,640 935,578 $3,713,225 $3.97
364 82977 — 327,408 521,470 $3,701,295 $7.10
319 84479 — 432,991 571,335 $3,668,355 $6.42
438 86200 — 259,390 284,546 $3,644,539 $12.81
311 93325 Echocardiographic Color Flow Mapping 443,087 526,198 $3,532,655 $6.71
511 86225 — 207,989 253,752 $3,446,323 $13.58
488 76376 — 224,659 256,332 $3,256,724 $12.71
291 82962 — 483,470 1,001,658 $3,231,533 $3.23
353 93005 — 335,395 382,239 $3,195,097 $8.36
506 90471 — 211,482 222,586 $2,986,725 $13.42
313 86431 — 442,908 526,450 $2,959,043 $5.62
362 83690 — 329,527 411,891 $2,809,587 $6.82
337 82310 — 387,442 575,887 $2,802,428 $4.87
331 85651 — 402,756 641,116 $2,707,459 $4.22
460 87340 — 238,314 259,287 $2,646,860 $10.21
397 82150 — 287,367 381,885 $2,450,722 $6.42
371 82044 — 316,584 397,427 $2,435,544 $6.13
352 82040 — 337,989 503,543 $2,403,360 $4.77
317 84520 — 433,241 622,198 $2,395,573 $3.85
412 85730 — 275,579 360,482 $2,149,909 $5.96
436 96127 — 260,726 436,801 $2,145,863 $4.91
538 93321 — 193,895 233,619 $2,115,703 $9.06
430 82247 — 263,947 434,550 $2,096,306 $4.82
390 84075 — 293,201 408,664 $2,026,484 $4.96
325 84155 — 420,328 569,794 $2,025,543 $3.55
410 84132 — 276,653 405,281 $1,902,489 $4.69
519 84295 — 204,881 299,573 $1,367,446 $4.56
490 85045 — 223,776 312,249 $1,235,359 $3.96
525 87205 — 203,545 260,597 $1,102,427 $4.23
464 85018 — 234,760 396,097 $927,137 $2.34
552 86592 — 185,721 212,956 $902,078 $4.24
527 82270 — 203,421 203,686 $882,335 $4.33

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 7,870 CPT codes billed to Medicare in CY2020, 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 54.6% of the $74.6B these 500 codes account for.

  1. 1 99214 Long Follow-Up Office Visit $9.1B
  2. 2 99213 Routine Follow-Up Office Visit $5.4B
  3. 3 99232 Daily Hospital Visit $2.9B
  4. 4 99233 Extended Daily Hospital Visit $2.6B
  5. 5 99223 Extended Hospital Admission Visit $1.9B
  6. 6 66984 Cataract Surgery $1.7B
  7. 7 99285 Emergency Visit, Highest Urgency $1.6B
  8. 8 99291 Critical Care $1.4B
  9. 9 99204 Long New Patient Office Visit $1.4B
  10. 10 92014 Full Eye Exam, Returning Patient $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
81003 Automated Urinalysis
By beneficiaries
#29
By allowed dollars
#402
Per service
$2.22
Few patients, lots of money
63685 Spinal Cord Stimulator Battery Placement
By beneficiaries
#476
By allowed dollars
#44
Per service
$6,503.85

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

These are CY2020 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.

16 codes on this list have since left the fee schedule. They were billed heavily in CY2020 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 7,870 CPT codes billed to Medicare in CY2020; this table shows the top 500 we cover.

Source: CMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners—by Geography and Service, national rows, CY2020. 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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