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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Ultrasound Procedures of the Abdomen and RetroperitoneumCPT cpt-76705-limited-abdominal-ultrasound
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    CPT 76705: Limited Abdominal Ultrasound, Real-Time

    Medicare pays $60 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 76705 describes a limited abdominal ultrasound examination performed with real-time imaging to evaluate a single organ, quadrant, or for follow-up assessment of abdominal structures (for example, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, bile ducts, spleen, or abdominal aorta); service type: diagnostic ultrasound, limited study; typical site of service: hospital outpatient department, radiology department, or ambulatory imaging center.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation for Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders, Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) Coverage Policy, Radiofrequency Therapy for Fecal Incontinence.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 54-year-old male presents to the outpatient imaging center with persistent right upper quadrant abdominal pain and elevated liver function tests. The clinician orders a focused abdominal ultrasound to evaluate the gallbladder for cholelithiasis and the biliary tree for obstruction. The patient is registered for a limited, real-time abdominal ultrasound of the right upper quadrant, performed by a diagnostic medical sonographer with real-time interpretation by a radiologist. Images and cine loops of the liver, gallbladder, common bile duct, and surrounding quadrant are documented and archived. The report includes focused measurements, description of any stones, ductal dilation, and a focused impression. If findings require further evaluation, a complete abdominal ultrasound or targeted follow-up study may be scheduled. Typical sites of service include outpatient imaging centers, hospital radiology departments, and emergency departments when a rapid, limited assessment is needed.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    76700Complete abdominal ultrasound; limited or complete, real time including image documentation of the abdomen and retroperitoneal organsPerforms a comprehensive exam of multiple abdominal organs when a limited study (76705) is insufficient or when pathology extends beyond a single organ/quadrant.

    |76770|Transabdominal ultrasound, limited or complete, pregnant uterus|Used in obstetric settings; not for abdominal organ evaluation but may be relevant when pregnancy is in differential or concurrent.

    |76942|Ultrasound guidance for needle placement (e.g., paracentesis) including imaging documentation|May be used when a limited abdominal ultrasound identifies free fluid requiring diagnostic or therapeutic paracentesis under ultrasound guidance.

    |99213|Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, moderate complexity|Represents a common E/M service that may be billed the same day as 76705 when a significant, separately identifiable office visit is performed (use modifier 25 if appropriate).

    |93975|Duplex scan of abdominal arteries; limited or follow-up study|May be ordered when a limited abdominal ultrasound identifies aortic or major arterial concerns requiring vascular-specific duplex evaluation.

    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…
    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…
    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.,…
    91Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RC0000X
    207L00000X
    207K00000X
    1744R1103X
    302F00000X
    2088P0231X
    163WC1500X
    251C00000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    26 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    B34.9Viral infection, unspecified
    B96.89Other specified bacterial agents as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
    C22.0Liver cell carcinoma
    C78.7Secondary malignant neoplasm of liver and intrahepatic bile duct
    E87.1Hypo-osmolality and hyponatremia
    I82.401Acute embolism and thrombosis of unspecified deep veins of right lower extremity
    K57.30Diverticulosis of large intestine without perforation or abscess without bleeding
    K59.00Constipation, unspecified
    K63.5Polyp of colon
    K74.60Unspecified cirrhosis of liver

    Showing 1–10 of 26

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Gastroenterology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation for Functional Abdominal Pain Disordersbcbsvermont2026-12-01
    Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) Coverage Policyevicore2026-11-05
    Radiofrequency Therapy for Fecal IncontinenceCigna2026-10-15
    Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation for the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    High-Resolution Anoscopy (HRA)Premera Bluecross2026-10-01
    Gastroesophageal and Gastrointestinal (GI) Services and ProceduresColorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-10-01
    Serum Testing for Hepatic Fibrosis in the Evaluation and Monitoring of Chronic Liver DiseaseOscar Health2026-10-01
    Fecal Analysis in the Diagnosis of Intestinal Dysbiosis and Fecal Microbiota Transplant TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Pancreatic Enzyme Testing for Acute PancreatitisOscar Health2026-10-01
    Helicobacter pylori TestingOscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-76700-COMPLETE-ABDOMINAL-ULTRASOUND

    CPT 76700: Complete Abdominal Ultrasound with Real-Time Imaging

    CPT-76706-ABDOMINAL-AORTA-ULTRASOUND-ANEURYSM-SCREENING

    CPT 76706: Abdominal Aortic Ultrasound for Aneurysm Screening

    CPT-76770-RETROPERITONEAL-ULTRASOUND-COMPLETE-REAL-TIME

    CPT 76770: Complete Retroperitoneal Ultrasound with Real-Time Imaging

    CPT-76775-LIMITED-RETROPERITONEAL-ULTRASOUND

    CPT 76775: Limited Retroperitoneal Ultrasound (Renal/Aortic)

    CPT-76776-TRANSPLANT-KIDNEY-ULTRASOUND-COLOR-DOPPLER

    CPT 76776: Ultrasound of Transplanted Kidney(s) with Color Doppler

    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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