Summary & Overview
CPT 76941: Ultrasound Guidance for Intrauterine Fetal Transfusion/Cordocentesis
CPT code 76941 covers imaging supervision and interpretation provided during ultrasound-guided intrauterine fetal transfusion or cordocentesis, a critical diagnostic and therapeutic intervention for fetal blood assessment and management. Nationally, this code identifies specialized maternal-fetal medicine imaging services that support high-acuity prenatal care and resource-intensive procedures. Payment and coverage for 76941 directly affect access to coordinated perinatal care teams and hospital-based maternal-fetal services.
Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical context for the code, typical settings where the service is delivered, and the payers commonly engaged in adjudicating claims for this service. The publication summarizes benchmarking considerations and common billing modifiers that appear with the service line, and outlines policy and coding nuances relevant to intrauterine transfusion and cordocentesis imaging supervision.
This executive summary prepares clinical and billing audiences to understand where 76941 fits within prenatal, diagnostic, and interventional workflows, and what elements are most relevant when documenting and submitting claims for ultrasound-guided fetal procedures. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 76941 describes imaging supervision and interpretation provided during an ultrasound-guided intrauterine fetal transfusion or cordocentesis. Cordocentesis is a diagnostic procedure to obtain and evaluate fetal blood. The service includes real-time ultrasound guidance and the professional interpretation of imaging performed while the invasive fetal procedure is underway.
Service type: Imaging supervision and interpretation for invasive fetal procedures
Typical site of service: Hospital inpatient or outpatient settings, or specialized maternal-fetal medicine clinics
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A pregnant patient at 24–34 weeks' gestation with suspected fetal anemia due to alloimmunization or suspected fetal infection is referred for diagnostic cordocentesis (percutaneous umbilical blood sampling) with or without an intrauterine fetal transfusion. The maternal-fetal medicine team coordinates care: maternal blood typing and antibody titers are reviewed, prior ultrasound assessment documents hydrops or middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity elevation, and informed consent is obtained. On procedure day the patient is placed in a supine or left lateral tilt position in an ultrasound-equipped procedure room. Real-time ultrasound is used to identify fetal presentation, placental location, and an optimal umbilical cord insertion site. Under sterile technique, the operator performs direct needle access to the umbilical vein at the cord or intrahepatic portion of the fetal circulation. The imaging provider performs continuous ultrasound supervision and records images for interpretation during access, sampling, and any transfusion. Specimens are sent for fetal blood gas, hemoglobin/hematocrit, direct antiglobulin testing, and karyotype or infection studies as indicated. If fetal transfusion is performed, the imaging guidance continues for needle placement, transfusion monitoring, and post-procedure assessment of fetal well-being. Typical post-procedure workflow includes fetal heart rate monitoring, ultrasound reassessment for bleeding or hematoma, and admission or observation per institutional protocol. This service is billed as imaging supervision and interpretation associated with separately reportable cordocentesis or intrauterine transfusion under code 76941.
Coding Specifications
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