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    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Ultrasound Procedures of the ChestCPT cpt-76604-pleural-space-ultrasound-evaluation
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    CPT 76604: Ultrasound Evaluation of Pleural Spaces

    Medicare pays $42 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 76604 describes an ultrasound procedure to evaluate the pleural spaces and adjacent structures for the presence of fluid or masses in the chest, upper back, chest wall, or mediastinum; service type: diagnostic ultrasound imaging of the thorax/pleura; typical site of service: hospital imaging departments, outpatient imaging centers, or point-of-care/bedside settings where chest ultrasound is performed.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for Diagnosis of Hypertension in Patients with Elevated Office Blood Pressure, Cardiology - Ivabradine, Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA).

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 68-year-old male presents to the emergency department with progressive shortness of breath, pleuritic chest pain, and hypoxia. Chest auscultation reveals diminished breath sounds at the left base. A chest radiograph suggests a possible pleural effusion. The emergency medicine physician orders point-of-care ultrasound of the thorax to evaluate the pleural spaces for fluid, pleural thickening, or masses and to guide potential diagnostic or therapeutic thoracentesis.

    The clinical workflow: the provider (emergency physician, hospitalist, or pulmonologist) performs a focused thoracic ultrasound at bedside using a curvilinear or phased-array transducer, documents real-time images and interpretations in the medical record, and determines whether image-guided intervention (for example, thoracentesis) is indicated. Images and a written report are archived in the facility imaging system. If an invasive procedure is performed, separate procedure coding is considered in addition to the ultrasound evaluation.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    32421Placement of indwelling tunneled pleural catheter with imaging guidancePerformed when recurrent malignant or symptomatic effusion requires long-term drainage; ultrasound may localize effusion prior to catheter placement
    32422Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiration of the pleural space; without imaging guidanceDiagnostic or therapeutic pleural fluid removal; ultrasound often performed to determine presence/volume of effusion and to guide aspiration (if done with imaging guidance, use imaging guidance codes as applicable)
    32423Thoracentesis with imaging guidanceThoracic ultrasound used in real time to guide needle placement during thoracentesis; commonly reported when imaging guidance is provided
    76604Ultrasound, chest (includes pleural spaces)The primary evaluation code used to assess pleural fluid, pleural masses, or chest wall abnormalities
    76641Ultrasound, chest, real-time with image documentation, foreign body, pleural or chest wall evaluationSometimes used for limited or specific chest wall/pleural ultrasound examinations depending on documentation
    76705Ultrasound, abdominal aorta, limited or completePerformed in some critically ill patients as part of a broader point-of-care ultrasound survey; listed when abdominal causes are in differential diagnosis

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RH0000X
    2084P0800X
    207K00000X
    213E00000X
    363LF0000X
    103TC1900X
    246QL0901X
    2278E0002X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Cardiology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for Diagnosis of Hypertension in Patients with Elevated Office Blood PressureBluecross Idaho2026-11-01
    Cardiology - IvabradineCigna2026-10-15
    Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Percutaneous Ventricular Assist DeviceUnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Cardiovascular Disease Risk AssessmentOscar Health2026-10-01
    Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart FailureOscar Health2026-10-01
    Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction for Diagnostic Cardiovascular ProceduresBlue Cross Blue Shield - Maine2026-10-01
    Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devicesexcellus_health_plan_inc2026-09-17
    Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devicesuniverahealthcare2026-09-17
    Cardiac Omnibus CodesCigna2026-09-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-76641-COMPLETE-BREAST-ULTRASOUND-ONE-BREAST

    CPT 76641: Complete Ultrasound of One Breast

    CPT-76642-FOCUSED-BREAST-ULTRASOUND-ONE-BREAST-LIMITED

    CPT 76642: Focused Limited Ultrasound of One Breast

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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