CPT code 76987 represents an intraoperative diagnostic ultrasound of the heart performed for congenital heart disease. It denotes a complete procedure encompassing transducer placement and manipulation, real-time image acquisition, interpretation, and documentation. This service matters nationally because intraoperative cardiac imaging supports surgical decision-making in complex congenital cases and has implications for perioperative workflows, coding accuracy, and reimbursement consistency across payers.

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 context for intraoperative echocardiography in congenital heart disease, payer coverage considerations, common billing modifiers encountered with this service, and where coding clarity often affects claim outcomes. The publication also highlights benchmarks and policy updates relevant to intraoperative imaging reimbursement and documentation expectations.

The content is organized to help coding managers, hospital billing teams, and clinicians understand when 76987 applies in the operative setting, typical sites of service, and common administrative issues that affect payment and compliance. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable.