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    v1.0.31
    OpenPayerBilling CodesOther Diagnostic Ultrasound ProceduresCPT cpt-76979-targeted-contrast-enhanced-ultrasound-microbubble
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    CPT 76979: Additional Microbubble Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound

    Medicare pays $74 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 76979 describes an additional targeted microbubble contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination performed after a repeat intravenous injection of lipid- or protein-coated, gas-core microsphere contrast to evaluate lesions suspicious for malignancy or to assess organ blood flow; service type: targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging; typical site of service: outpatient imaging centers or hospital radiology/ultrasound suites.

    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 62-year-old patient with a history of chronic liver disease is referred for additional targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound after an initial contrast-enhanced study identified a 2.5 cm hepatic lesion suspicious for hepatocellular carcinoma. The provider re-injects the patient intravenously with gas-core, lipid- or protein-coated microbubble contrast and performs a focused microbubble contrast-enhanced ultrasound targeted to the lesion to assess arterial phase enhancement, washout characteristics, and intralesional vascularity. The workflow includes verification of IV access and consent, administration of the specified microbubble agent, real-time ultrasound imaging with focused cine loops and still images, interpretation by the attending radiologist or sonologist, and documentation of findings and contrast dose in the report. Typical site of service is the hospital outpatient imaging department or freestanding radiology/imaging center; inpatient use may occur for hospitalized patients requiring targeted lesion characterization or organ perfusion assessment (for example, liver or kidney).

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    76700Ultrasound, abdominal, real time with image documentation; completeOften performed before or instead of targeted CEUS for initial abdominal evaluation and localization.
    76705Ultrasound, abdominal, real time with image documentation; limited or focusedPerformed for focused pre- or post-contrast assessment of a specific organ or lesion.
    76977Ultrasound contrast administration and subsequent imaging, percutaneous, targeted, for lesion characterizationRelated contrast ultrasound code for initial administration and imaging; 76979 is used for an additional targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound after re-injection.
    78803Transcatheter therapy, radiopharmaceutical, therapeutic, percutaneousRepresents interventional therapies that may follow lesion characterization; included as common downstream code in workflows for malignant lesions.
    76970Ultrasonic guidance for localization for biopsy or aspiration; first lesionMay be used when CEUS guides a subsequent percutaneous biopsy of the targeted lesion.

    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…
    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…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…
    82Modifier 82 is appended to a surgical CPT code to indicate that an attending physician acted as an assistant because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable. In teaching hospitals it documents…- When to use: Append modifier 82 in teaching-hospital settings to indicate a physician served as an assistant surgeon because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable (includes situations where…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    2084P0800X
    207K00000X
    207L00000X
    171400000X
    320700000X
    103TP2701X
    261QI0500X
    282E00000X

    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-76977-PERIPHERAL-BONE-DENSITY-ULTRASOUND

    CPT 76977: Peripheral Bone Density Measurement by Ultrasound

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

    CPT 76978: Targeted 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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