Procedure · Updated Aug 1, 2026

MRI of the knee: CPT code and Medicare rate

An MRI of a lower-limb joint without contrast—the standard knee study, ordered for persistent pain, locking, or instability when a soft-tissue or cartilage tear is suspected.

Also called: knee mri, mri knee, knee scan.

Usually billed as

73721 Lower-Extremity Joint MRI Without Contrast

Office (non-facility): $204.41
Facility: $204.41

National amounts for the Q4 2026 release (October 1 – December 31, 2026), using geographic index values of 1.000. Your local rate differs; the code page has the locality breakdown.

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MRI of the knee: which code is it?

73721—Lower-Extremity Joint MRI Without Contrast. An MRI of a lower-limb joint without contrast—the standard knee study, ordered for persistent pain, locking, or instability when a soft-tissue or cartilage tear is suspected.

MRI of the knee: how much does Medicare pay?

Nationally, the Q4 2026 Physician Fee Schedule pays $204.41 in an office (non-facility) setting and $204.41 in a facility setting for 73721. Your local amount differs—the national figure applies geographic index values of 1.000, and Medicare then pays 80% of the allowed amount after the deductible is met.

Need the rate where you practice?

Every code page carries the full locality breakdown, the RVU and GPCI inputs, and the release the numbers come from.

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All procedures How Medicare pays Office vs. facility rates Check a medical bill

This page maps everyday language to the code a claim normally carries. It's general information about how Medicare prices a service, not coding advice for a specific claim. The correct code always depends on what was actually documented and performed.

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