Imaging center billing and radiology revenue cycle management — DrCare MSO
Radiology Revenue Experts

Imaging Center
Billing Services

Modality-specific billing for diagnostic imaging centers and radiology practices. From routine X-rays to complex interventional procedures — TC/PC expertise, prior auth management, and RBM navigation across all 50 states.

97%

First-Pass Rate

Industry avg ~85%

28%

Revenue Growth

Avg across imaging clients

8-Day

A/R Improvement

Within first 90 days

75+

Centers Served

Freestanding & hospital-based

0%

First-Pass Rate

0%

Revenue Growth

0-Day

Avg A/R Improvement

0+

Centers Served

Every Modality Covered

Radiology Billing for Every Imaging Modality

Our certified radiology coders understand the CPT code families, modifier rules, and medical necessity requirements specific to each modality your center performs.

MRI

Brain, spine, joint, cardiac, and contrast-enhanced MRI studies

CPT 70553, 72148, 73721

CT Scan

Head, chest, abdomen, pelvis, and CT angiography

CPT 70450, 71250, 74177

X-Ray

Diagnostic radiography across all anatomical regions

CPT 71046, 73030, 73610

Ultrasound

OB/GYN, vascular, abdominal, and musculoskeletal ultrasound

CPT 76700, 76805, 93971

Mammography

Screening, diagnostic, 3D tomosynthesis, and breast MRI

CPT 77067, 77065, 77063

Nuclear Medicine

PET/CT, bone scans, thyroid uptake, and cardiac stress tests

CPT 78815, 78300, 78452

Fluoroscopy

Upper GI, barium studies, arthrography, and guided procedures

CPT 74246, 74270, 27648

Interventional

Biopsies, drains, injections, and vascular interventions

CPT 19083, 49405, 36247
MRI suite at diagnostic imaging center — radiology billing experts
Precision Coding

Modality-Specific CPT Coding That Gets Paid

Imaging billing demands specialized knowledge of CPT code families across every modality. Our certified radiology coders apply proper modifier usage — TC, 26, 59, 76, 77, LT, RT — and validate complete documentation to maximize reimbursement on every scan. Per DrCare MSO's analysis of 180,000+ imaging claims processed in 2024, modifier errors account for 31% of imaging-specific denials.

TC/PC/Global Billing
Prior Auth Management
RBM Navigation
Contract Optimization
Modifier 59/XU Edits
Bilateral Study Coding
Prior Authorization

Conquer Prior Auth and RBM Challenges

Prior authorization requirements from AIM Specialty Health, eviCore, and Carelon continue to expand for imaging studies. Our team manages the full prior auth process — from initial request to peer-to-peer review — so your studies are approved before the patient arrives. Eliminating auth-related denials recovers an average of $18,000 per month for a mid-sized imaging center, per DrCare MSO's analysis of center billing data from 2024.

Same-day prior authorization requests
Peer-to-peer review coordination with clinical support
Authorization tracking and documentation for every study
Denial appeal management for rejected auths
MIPS/MACRA quality reporting support
RBM requirement matrix by payer and modality
Radiologist reading room — prior authorization and imaging billing management
Coding Reference

Common Imaging CPT Codes, Modifiers & Denial Patterns

Understanding denial root causes by CPT code is the first step to preventing them. Hover any row for detail.

Modality / StudyCPT CodeTypical ModifierMedicare Rate RangeTop Denial Cause
MRI Brain w/ Contrast70553TC or 26$380–$520Medical necessity (missing diagnosis)
CT Chest w/o Contrast71250TC or 26$180–$260Prior auth not obtained
Ultrasound Abdomen Complete76700TC or 26$120–$190Duplicate claim (TC/PC confusion)
Screening Mammography 3D77067 + 77063Global$160–$240Age or frequency limit
PET/CT Whole Body78816TC or 26$1,200–$1,800RBM authorization missing
Interventional Biopsy1908359 or XU$400–$680Bundling edit (unbundle required)
Rate ranges reflect 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and vary by payer contract and geographic region. Source: CMS 2025 MPFS. DrCare MSO clients receive payer-specific rate analysis during onboarding.

Why Imaging Centers Choose DrCare MSO

Purpose-built for diagnostic imaging revenue cycle management — not adapted from a general billing platform

Modality-Specific Coding

Expert CPT coding for MRI, CT, X-ray, ultrasound, mammography, nuclear medicine, and interventional procedures with correct modifier assignment.

Technical & Professional Billing

Accurate TC (modifier TC), Professional Component (modifier 26), and Global billing with duplicate edit validation before every submission.

Prior Auth Management

Complete prior authorization lifecycle management with AIM, eviCore, and Carelon to stop denials before the patient arrives.

Contract Optimization

Fee schedule analysis benchmarked against Medicare and regional commercial rates, with gap reporting by CPT code and payer.

Utilization Management

Navigate radiology benefit manager requirements and appeal inappropriate medical necessity denials with clinical support documentation.

Modality Analytics

Performance reporting segmented by modality, payer, referring physician, and time period — updated monthly with actionable recommendations.

Billing Structure

TC/PC Split Billing: Getting It Right Every Time

Technical Component and Professional Component billing is the single most common source of imaging-specific claim errors. A missed modifier TC on a freestanding center claim results in underpayment. A duplicate global claim where TC and 26 were already billed separately creates overpayment liability. DrCare MSO's billing engine validates the correct billing structure for every claim before submission.

Technical Component (TC)

Equipment, facility overhead, and non-physician staff. Billed by the imaging center when the reading is done separately.

Professional Component (modifier 26)

Radiologist interpretation and report. Billed by the reading group or radiologist's professional entity.

Global Billing (no modifier)

Both TC and 26 billed together. Applies when the same entity owns the equipment and employs the reading radiologist.

Before DrCare MSO vs. After

Modifier Error Rate
Before~18%
After<2%
Auth-Related Denials
Before~22% of claims
After<5% of claims
Days in A/R
Before45–55 days
After35–42 days
First-Pass Rate
Before~78%
After97%+
Revenue Per Study
BeforeBaseline
After+12–18% avg

Based on DrCare MSO's analysis of imaging center clients transitioned in 2023–2024. Individual results vary by center size and payer mix.

Compliance & Credentials

Built for Regulatory Scrutiny

HIPAA Compliant

BAA executed with every client. SOC 2 security protocols for all data handling.

AAPC-Certified Coders

CRC and CPC credentialed coders with radiology-specific training and annual continuing education.

OIG Compliance Framework

Internal billing reviews aligned with OIG Work Plan priorities for imaging and radiology.

Named Account Manager

Every imaging center gets a dedicated account manager — not a rotating support queue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from imaging center administrators, radiology practice managers, and CFOs evaluating billing outsourcing.

"DrCareMSO understands the unique challenges of imaging center billing. Our collections improved by 28% and denials dropped dramatically. Their modality-specific expertise is exceptional."

Dr. Patricia Williams

Medical Director, Advanced Imaging Associates

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Have Questions?
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Fill out this form, tell us about your practice's unique needs, and get a tailored solution from our revenue cycle experts!

Free revenue cycle analysis
No long-term contracts required
Dedicated account manager
HIPAA compliant processes

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contact@drcaremso.com

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