Summary & Overview
CPT 76776: Ultrasound of Transplanted Kidney with Color Doppler
CPT code 76776 denotes a diagnostic ultrasound of transplanted kidney(s) with color (duplex) Doppler imaging to assess graft anatomy and blood flow. This study is a core imaging modality in transplant follow-up and acute graft evaluation, providing noninvasive assessment of vascular patency, perfusion, and intrarenal blood flow. Nationally, accurate coding and appropriate use of this service influence utilization metrics, post-transplant surveillance protocols, and imaging workflow at transplant centers and outpatient radiology settings.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical indications and service settings, common billing modifiers and administrative considerations provided separately, and context on how this code fits into transplant imaging pathways. The publication outlines benchmarking and reimbursement considerations, payer coverage patterns, and operational implications for imaging departments and transplant programs. It also highlights policy updates or coding guidance when available and clarifies where input data is missing. The focus remains national and clinical-administrative: helping coders, billing managers, and health system leaders understand the role and reporting of CPT code 76776 in transplant care.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 76776 describes an ultrasound examination of transplanted kidney(s) using sound waves to produce images of the grafted kidney. The study incorporates color Doppler (duplex Doppler) imaging to evaluate overall blood flow, including intrarenal vessels and the vessels supplying and draining the transplant.
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Service type: Diagnostic ultrasound with color Doppler assessment of a transplanted kidney
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Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient imaging departments, radiology or ultrasound suites, transplant centers, and ambulatory care imaging centers
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 48-year-old man with a deceased-donor kidney transplant 6 months prior presents to the outpatient transplant clinic for routine surveillance and because of a recent rise in serum creatinine from baseline. The transplant nephrologist orders a diagnostic ultrasound of the transplanted kidney with color Doppler (duplex) to evaluate perfusion, vascular anastomoses, and intrarenal blood flow. The patient arrives at the hospital's outpatient imaging center. A registered sonographer performs the study, obtaining grayscale images to assess size, echogenicity, fluid collections, and hydronephrosis, and color and spectral Doppler to evaluate arterial and venous flow, resistive indices, focal stenosis at the renal artery anastomosis, and possible thrombosis. The interpreting radiologist or transplant surgeon reviews images and issues a report noting resistive indices, presence or absence of perinephric collections, vascular patency, and any findings suggestive of rejection, obstruction, or vascular complication. Results are communicated to the transplant nephrology team for integration with laboratory data and clinical management.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the physician interpretation of the ultrasound images separate from technical acquisition. |
TC |