Summary & Overview
CPT 76882: Limited Ultrasound of Nonvascular Extremity Structures
CPT code 76882 denotes a limited diagnostic ultrasound examination of one or more nonvascular structures in an extremity, captured in real time with a permanent imaging record. This code is used across outpatient and hospital-based imaging settings when focused evaluation of musculoskeletal or soft-tissue structures—such as tendons, ligaments, muscle, or superficial masses—is clinically indicated. Nationally, use of limited extremity ultrasound supports point-of-care diagnostic workflows and can influence downstream care decisions, imaging cascades, and procedural planning.
Key payers in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise briefing on clinical context and typical sites of service, a summary of common reimbursement and billing modifiers where available, and comparative benchmarks where published by major payers. The publication also highlights coding relationships and areas where policy updates or payer-specific coverage rules commonly affect utilization.
This summary equips clinicians, coding professionals, and policy analysts with an overview of what CPT code 76882 represents, why it matters in diagnostic imaging workflows, and what to expect in payer interactions and documentation requirements. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 76882 describes a limited ultrasound study of one or more nonvascular structures in an extremity. The procedure involves real-time imaging displayed on a monitor with a permanent copy of images or video documented in the medical record.
Service type: Limited diagnostic ultrasound of extremity nonvascular structures
Typical site of service: Outpatient clinic, ambulatory imaging center, or hospital outpatient department for diagnostic imaging of an extremity
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 45-year-old office worker who presents to an outpatient radiology or orthopedic clinic with focal lateral forearm pain after a fall onto an outstretched hand. The referring provider documents localized swelling and point tenderness over the distal radius/ulnar soft tissues and requests a limited extremity ultrasound to evaluate for a focal tendon tear, small joint effusion, or soft-tissue foreign body. The patient is checked in at the clinic front desk, medical history and allergies are reviewed, and consent for an ultrasound examination is obtained.
A sonographer or physician performs a limited, focused ultrasound of the affected extremity using high-frequency linear transducers. Real-time imaging is captured and key still images and cine loops are stored in the PACS; a permanent report is documented in the medical record. The interpreting provider reviews imaging for findings such as partial-thickness tendon tear, focal fluid collection, ganglion cyst, or foreign body. Results are communicated to the referring clinician and incorporated into the plan of care, which may include immobilization, clinic-based procedures, or referral to orthopedics.
Typical site of service is an outpatient radiology clinic, ambulatory surgery center (if performed as part of a procedure), urgent care center, or physician office. The service type is a limited diagnostic ultrasound of one or more nonvascular structures in an extremity and is billed as a focused, non-comprehensive imaging study using code 76882.
Coding Specifications
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