Need help choosing the right code?
Ask CasePilot about procedures, modifiers, bundling, and coding guidance.
Try CasePilot© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
The CPT® Code 77081 refers to a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) procedure specifically designed for conducting a bone density study at one or more sites of the appendicular skeleton, which includes peripheral areas such as the radius, wrist, and heel. This diagnostic imaging technique is utilized to measure bone mass or bone mineral density (BMD), which is crucial for diagnosing bone diseases, assessing the progression of these diseases, and monitoring treatment outcomes, particularly in patients with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by decreased bone density, leading to an increased risk of fractures. The DXA procedure is notable for its low radiation exposure, approximately one-thirtieth of that associated with a standard chest X-ray. During the DXA scan, two X-ray beams of differing energy levels are directed at the bones in alternating pulses. The absorption of these beams by the bone is measured, while the absorption by soft tissues is subtracted out, allowing for an accurate determination of BMD. The results of the DXA scan are then compared to a reference standard of bone density for individuals of the same sex at the age of 30, which is when peak bone mass is typically achieved. The difference between the measured BMD and this age-matched standard is expressed as the T score. A T score ranging from -1.0 to -2.4 indicates osteopenia, a condition of lower than normal bone density, while a T score of -2.5 or lower signifies osteoporosis. For studies focusing on the axial skeleton, such as the pelvis, hips, or spine, the appropriate code to use is 77080, whereas 77081 is specifically designated for assessments of the appendicular skeleton.
© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) procedure represented by CPT® Code 77081 is indicated for the following conditions:
The DXA procedure involves several key steps to ensure accurate measurement of bone density:
After the DXA scan is completed, there are typically no specific post-procedure care requirements, as the procedure is non-invasive and involves minimal radiation exposure. Patients can resume their normal activities immediately following the scan. The results, including the T score and any relevant findings, will be communicated to the referring physician, who will discuss the implications of the results with the patient and determine any necessary follow-up actions or treatments based on the findings.
| Short Descr | DXA BONE DENSITY APPENDICULR | Medium Descr | DXA BONE DENSITY STUDY 1/>SITES APPENDICLR SKEL | Long Descr | Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bone density study, 1 or more sites; appendicular skeleton (peripheral) (eg, radius, wrist, heel) | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 1 - Diagnostic Tests for Radiology Services | Multiple Procedures (51) | 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Procedure or Service, Not Discounted when Multiple | ASC Payment Indicator | Radiology service paid separately when provided integral to a surgical procedure on ASC list; payment based on MPFS nonfacility PE RVUs. | Type of Service (TOS) | 4 - Diagnostic Radiology | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | I1B - Standard imaging - musculoskeletal | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 226 - Other diagnostic radiology and related techniques |
This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.
| G0513 | Telehealth Service (Medicare) Medicare Coverage: Carrier Priced Add-on Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N Prolonged preventive service(s) (beyond the typical service time of the primary procedure), in the office or other outpatient setting requiring direct patient contact beyond the usual service; first 30 minutes (list separately in addition to code for preventive service) |
| 26 | Professional component: certain procedures are a combination of a physician or other qualified health care professional component and a technical component. when the physician or other qualified health care professional component is reported separately, the service may be identified by adding modifier 26 to the usual procedure number. | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service | TC | Technical component; under certain circumstances, a charge may be made for the technical component alone; under those circumstances the technical component charge is identified by adding modifier 'tc' to the usual procedure number; technical component charges are institutional charges and not billed separately by physicians; however, portable x-ray suppliers only bill for technical component and should utilize modifier tc; the charge data from portable x-ray suppliers will then be used to build customary and prevailing profiles | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | X5 | Diagnostic services requested by another clinician: for reporting services by a clinician who furnishes care to the patient only as requested by another clinician or subsequent and related services requested by another clinician; this modifier is reported for patient relationships that may not be adequately captured by the above alternative categories; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the radiologist's interpretation of an imaging study requested by another clinician | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | Q6 | Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | XP | Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner | 25 | Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional on the same day of the procedure or other service: it may be necessary to indicate that on the day a procedure or service identified by a cpt code was performed, the patient's condition required a significant, separately identifiable e/m service above and beyond the other service provided or beyond the usual preoperative and postoperative care associated with the procedure that was performed. a significant, separately identifiable e/m service is defined or substantiated by documentation that satisfies the relevant criteria for the respective e/m service to be reported (see evaluation and management services guidelines for instructions on determining level of e/m service). the e/m service may be prompted by the symptom or condition for which the procedure and/or service was provided. as such, different diagnoses are not required for reporting of the e/m services on the same date. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 25 to the appropriate level of e/m service. note: this modifier is not used to report an e/m service that resulted in a decision to perform surgery. see modifier 57 for significant, separately identifiable non-e/m services, see modifier 59. | 76 | Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 77 | Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 95 | Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via a real-time interactive audio and video telecommunications system: synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located at a distant site from the physician or other qualified health care professional. the totality of the communication of information exchanged between the physician or other qualified health care professional and the patient during the course of the synchronous telemedicine service must be of an amount and nature that would be sufficient to meet the key components and/or requirements of the same service when rendered via a face-to-face interaction. modifier 95 may only be appended to the services listed in appendix p. appendix p is the list of cpt codes for services that are typically performed face-to-face, but may be rendered via a real-time (synchronous) interactive audio and video telecommunications system. | AG | Primary physician | CC | Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed) | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | FY | X-ray taken using computed radiography technology/cassette-based imaging | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | GY | Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit | KX | Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met | MG | The order for this service does not have applicable appropriate use criteria in the qualified clinical decision support mechanism consulted by the ordering professional | PO | Excepted service provided at an off-campus, outpatient, provider-based department of a hospital | PS | Positron emission tomography (pet) or pet/computed tomography (ct) to inform the subsequent treatment strategy of cancerous tumors when the beneficiary's treating physician determines that the pet study is needed to inform subsequent anti-tumor strategy | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | Q5 | Service furnished under a reciprocal billing arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | TV | Special payment rates, holidays/weekends | X4 | Episodic/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians who provide focused care on particular types of treatment limited to a defined period and circumstance; the patient has a problem, acute or chronic, that will be treated with surgery, radiation, or some other type of generally time-limited intervention; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the orthopedic surgeon performing a knee replacement and seeing the patient through the postoperative period |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-01 | Changed | Short Description changed. |
| 2007-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 2007. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.