CPT 71045: Chest X-ray, Single View
Radiologic examination of the chest, single view. A basic chest X-ray providing one projection, typically PA (posteroanterior) or AP (anteroposterior).
Why CPT 71045 Claims Get Denied
Claims billed under CPT 71045 are frequently denied or downcoded for the following reasons. Understanding these patterns helps your practice reduce denial rates and recover revenue faster.
Medical necessity not established for the imaging
Duplicate imaging within short timeframe
Bundled with 2-view chest X-ray (71046)
Missing ordering provider information
Billing Tips for CPT 71045
If both PA and lateral views are taken, bill 71046 (2 views) instead. Link to appropriate respiratory or cardiovascular diagnosis code. For pre-operative chest X-rays, include the surgical indication. Bill the technical and professional components separately if applicable (TC and 26 modifiers).
Documentation Requirements
To support a clean claim for CPT 71045, your clinical documentation should include:
Provider order with clinical indication
Number of views obtained
Radiologist interpretation and report
Clinical correlation and follow-up recommendation
Common Modifiers for CPT 71045
Reduce CPT 71045 Denials by 60%
RediClaim's pre-submission scrubber catches documentation gaps and coding errors before you submit, while the appeal generator handles denials that slip through.