The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has developed Ambulatory Payment Classifications (APCs) as a method of payment for hospital outpatient services.

Each APC is composed of procedures which are similar in clinical intensity, resource utilization, and cost.

All services which are grouped under a specific APC result in an annually updated Medicare “prospective payment” for that particular APC.

For diagnostic imaging, there are 7 different APCs (see image above).

For a complete list of APCs and corresponding CPT codes, please: