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    OpenPayerBilling CodesOther Diagnostic Ultrasound ProceduresCPT cpt-76989-intraoperative-cardiac-ultrasound-interpretation-report
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    CPT 76989: Intraoperative Cardiac Ultrasound Interpretation for Congenital Heart Disease

    Medicare pays $38 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 76989 describes the interpretation and written report of intraoperative ultrasound imaging of the heart performed to evaluate congenital heart disease; the service type is diagnostic intraoperative imaging interpretation and the typical site of service is an operating room or intraoperative setting where the provider performs focused cardiac ultrasound interpretation during a surgical procedure.

    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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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A pediatric cardiac surgeon is performing corrective surgery for a newborn with a suspected congenital heart defect (for example, complex septal defect or transposition physiology). During the operation, the surgeon requests intraoperative transthoracic or epicardial ultrasound imaging of the heart to assess anatomy and immediate surgical results. A pediatric cardiologist or sonographer performs real-time imaging while the chest is open, documents findings, and the interpreting physician produces a formal interpretation and report for the operative record. The service represented by 76989 covers only the interpretation and report of intraoperative ultrasound performed to evaluate congenital heart disease; image acquisition at the bedside or in the operating room is performed by the intraoperative team but the coding for interpretation/report is billed separately. Typical workflow: intraoperative images are obtained and transmitted to the interpreting physician, the physician reviews cine loops and images, documents measurements and impressions, dictates the interpretation, and the report is filed in the medical record. Typical site of service is the operating room, often in a tertiary pediatric cardiac center or hospital-based surgical suite. Typical patient scenario: neonate or infant undergoing corrective or palliative cardiac surgery for congenital structural heart disease requiring intraoperative echocardiographic guidance and post-repair assessment.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    93312Echocardiography, transesophageal, real-time with image documentation (2D) with or without M-mode; completeMay be used intraoperatively as a comprehensive transesophageal study performed before, during, or after repair; 76989 covers interpretation/report of intraoperative ultrasound for congenital heart disease when billed separately.
    93320Doppler echocardiography, pulsed wave and/or continuous wave with spectral displayUsed to obtain Doppler hemodynamic data intraoperatively; acquisition is technical component often billed by facility/sonographer while interpretation may be included in 76989 when limited to intraoperative congenital assessment.
    76705Ultrasound, abdominal, limited or follow-upRepresentative of intraoperative limited imaging CPT structure; not specific to cardiac but illustrates limited intraoperative ultrasounds that may be performed concurrently.
    93355Echocardiography, transthoracic, real-time with image documentation (2D) with spectral and color Doppler; intraoperativeSpecifically describes intraoperative transthoracic echocardiography services; may be reported for comprehensive intraoperative studies while 76989 represents interpretation/report only in some billing arrangements.
    76937Ultrasound guidance for vascular access requiring ultrasound evaluation of pre-existing vascular anatomyPerioperative ultrasound guidance procedures commonly performed in the OR; not cardiac-specific but may be reported in the same operative episode when vascular access is obtained.

    Related Modifiers

    8 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…
    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…
    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…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207LC0200X
    207RS0010X
    314000000X
    364SP0807X
    225C00000X
    204E00000X
    2081P0010X
    2084H0002X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    24 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    I34.0Nonrheumatic mitral (valve) insufficiency
    I34.1Nonrheumatic mitral (valve) prolapse
    I35.0Nonrheumatic aortic (valve) stenosis
    I42.8Other cardiomyopathies
    P29.4Transient myocardial ischemia in newborn
    Q20.0Common arterial trunk
    Q20.1Double outlet right ventricle
    Q21.0Ventricular septal defect
    Q21.3Tetralogy of Fallot
    Q22.0Pulmonary valve atresia

    Showing 1–10 of 24

    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-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

    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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