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    v1.0.31
    OpenPayerBilling CodesOther Diagnostic Ultrasound ProceduresCPT cpt-76977-peripheral-bone-density-ultrasound
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    CPT 76977: Peripheral Bone Density Measurement by Ultrasound

    Medicare pays $5 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 76977 describes ultrasound measurement and interpretation of bone density at one or more peripheral sites (for example wrist or knee), a diagnostic imaging service typically performed as an outpatient peripheral bone density assessment using ultrasound equipment; the service includes both the acquisition of ultrasound measurements and the interpretive report for peripheral skeletal sites.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devices for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation, Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devices for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation, Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devices for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is a postmenopausal woman or older adult referred for peripheral bone density screening after risk assessment or a fragility fracture. The patient arrives at an outpatient diagnostic imaging clinic or a primary care office equipped with a peripheral quantitative ultrasound device. The technologist explains the procedure, confirms laterality and the specific peripheral site (commonly calcaneus, distal radius/wrist, or tibia), and positions the limb in the ultrasound cradle. The device performs the measurement, capturing bone ultrasound parameters; the technologist ensures image quality and repeats measurement if artifact or positioning error occurs. The interpreting clinician (often a radiologist, endocrinologist, or primary care physician with bone health expertise) reviews the measurements, generates a brief report with device-specific T-score or broadband ultrasound attenuation values, and documents interpretation and clinical impression. Results are communicated to the ordering provider for osteoporosis risk stratification, treatment decisions, or need for central DXA referral. Typical site of service: outpatient diagnostic imaging center, ambulatory clinic, or physician office with point-of-care peripheral ultrasound bone densitometry equipment.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    76977Ultrasound bone density measurement and interpretation of one or more peripheral sites (e.g., heel, wrist, knee)This is the primary code describing peripheral ultrasound bone density measurement and interpretation
    77080Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bone density study, one or more sites; axial skeleton (eg, hips, pelvis, spine)Often performed when peripheral ultrasound results indicate abnormal bone density or when central DXA is needed for diagnostic confirmation
    77085Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bone density study, peripheral site(s) (e.g., heel), single or bilateralAlternative densitometry modality for peripheral sites; may be used instead of or in conjunction with ultrasound
    99401Preventive counseling, individual, approximately 15 minutes (Note: this is a CPT preventive counseling code)Counseling on osteoporosis prevention or bone health frequently accompanies testing and management discussions
    99000Handling and/or conveyance of specimen for transfer from patient to laboratory (if applicable)Not typically used for imaging but listed here for workflows that include specimen handling (Note: use only when applicable)

    Related Modifiers

    7 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…
    56Modifier ‑56 indicates the reporting provider furnished only the preoperative management for a surgical procedure and did not perform the intraoperative or postoperative care. It is used in…- Use Modifier -56 when a provider performs only the preoperative management in a split‑care situation (one physician manages preop care while a different physician performs the intraoperative…
    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…
    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…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207Q00000X
    208000000X
    207L00000X
    101YM0800X
    373H00000X
    251V00000X
    1835S0206X
    111NN0400X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    23 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    E03.1Congenital hypothyroidism without goiter
    E03.9Hypothyroidism, unspecified
    E23.0Hypopituitarism
    E55.9Vitamin D deficiency, unspecified
    M25.561Pain in right knee
    M25.562Pain in left knee
    M25.569Pain in unspecified knee
    M48.00Spinal stenosis, site unspecified
    M80.08XAAge-related osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, vertebra(e), initial encounter for fracture
    M81.0Age-related osteoporosis without current pathological fracture

    Showing 1–10 of 23

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Cardiology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devices for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillationpremerabluecrossofwashington2027-02-05
    Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devices for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillationpremerabluecrossofwashington2027-02-05
    Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devices for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillationpremerabluecrossofwashington2027-02-05
    Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure - Medical PolicyHealth-New-England2027-02-01
    Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair Medical PolicyHealth-New-England2027-02-01
    Cardiac Electrophysiological (EP) Studies and Cardiac Ablation of Abnormal Electrical RhythmsCigna2027-01-15
    IvabradineCigna2026-11-15
    Tilt Table TestingCigna2026-11-15
    Outpatient Cardiology Procedures for EviCore Arrangement (for Oxford Only)Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-11-01
    Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart Failure Reimbursement PolicyHealthfirst2026-11-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-76975-ENDOSCOPIC-ULTRASOUND-SUPERVISION-INTERPRETATION

    CPT 76975: Endoscopic Ultrasound Supervision and Interpretation

    CPT-76978-CONTRAST-ENHANCED-MICROBUBBLE-ULTRASOUND-LESION-ASSESSMENT

    CPT 76978: Targeted Microbubble Contrast‑Enhanced Ultrasound

    CPT-76979-TARGETED-CONTRAST-ENHANCED-ULTRASOUND-MICROBUBBLE

    CPT 76979: Additional Microbubble Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound

    CPT-76981-ULTRASOUND-ELASTOGRAPHY-ORGAN-BASELINE-ASSESSMENT

    CPT 76981: Ultrasound Elastography for Organ Tissue Assessment

    CPT-76982-ULTRASOUND-ELASTOGRAPHY-SUSPICIOUS-LESION

    CPT 76982: Ultrasound Elastography for Suspicious Lesion

    CPT-76983-ULTRASOUND-ELASTOGRAPHY-SUSPICIOUS-LESION

    CPT 76983: Ultrasound Elastography of Additional Suspicious Lesion

    CPT-76984-INTRAOPERATIVE-THORACIC-AORTA-ULTRASOUND

    CPT 76984: Intraoperative Ultrasound Imaging of Thoracic Aorta

    CPT-76987-INTRAOPERATIVE-CARDIAC-ULTRASOUND-CONGENITAL-HEART-DISEASE

    CPT 76987: Intraoperative Cardiac Ultrasound Guidance

    CPT-76988-INTRAOPERATIVE-ULTRASOUND-CONGENITAL-HEART-EVALUATION

    CPT 76988: Intraoperative Cardiac Ultrasound Transducer Placement and Imaging

    CPT-76989-INTRAOPERATIVE-CARDIAC-ULTRASOUND-INTERPRETATION-REPORT

    CPT 76989: Intraoperative Cardiac Ultrasound Interpretation for Congenital Heart Disease

    Showing 1–10 of 12

    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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