Summary & Overview
HCPCS C9744: Abdominal Ultrasound with Contrast
HCPCS Level II code C9744 designates an abdominal ultrasound performed with contrast to improve visualization of abdominal organs and pathology. As contrast-enhanced sonography becomes more widely used, this code captures a distinct imaging technique that can affect diagnostic workflows, imaging utilization, and coding practices nationwide. The code matters because it distinguishes contrast-enhanced ultrasound from standard abdominal sonography, which can influence billing specificity and clinical documentation.
Key payers included in this overview are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise national perspective on how the service is classified, common sites of service, and where this procedure fits in diagnostic imaging pathways. The publication outlines benchmarking topics such as utilization context, coding considerations, and payer coverage patterns where available. It also provides clinical context about the role of contrast-enhanced abdominal ultrasound in detecting focal liver lesions, characterizing masses, and improving lesion conspicuity compared with non-contrast sonography.
Data not available in the input is noted for specific payer policies, associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes. The piece is intended to inform coding professionals, revenue cycle staff, and clinical leaders about the purpose and clinical positioning of C9744 at a national level.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code C9744 represents ultrasound of the abdomen performed with contrast agent. This service involves sonographic imaging of abdominal organs and structures using an intravenous or oral contrast medium to enhance visualization.
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Service type: Diagnostic ultrasound with contrast
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Typical site of service: Outpatient imaging centers, hospital outpatient departments, and ambulatory care settings
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old patient with a history of colorectal cancer presents with new right upper quadrant pain and an elevated liver function panel. The ordering clinician requests an abdominal ultrasound with contrast to evaluate for focal liver lesions versus metastatic disease and to better characterize a previously noted indeterminate hepatic lesion on prior non-contrast ultrasound. The patient arrives to the outpatient radiology suite. A registered sonographer reviews the indication, verifies allergies (including contrast agent allergies), and confirms IV access for administration of ultrasound contrast agent. The contrast-enhanced abdominal ultrasound is performed by a sonographer with real-time supervision and interpretation by a radiologist. Images include grayscale and Doppler evaluation of the liver, kidneys, spleen, and biliary system, followed by administration of ultrasound contrast agent and contrast-specific imaging phases to assess lesion vascularity and washout patterns. The radiologist documents findings, impression, and recommendations for further management. Billing is submitted using C9744 for the ultrasound, abdominal, with contrast, with modifier 51 applied when appropriate for multiple procedural services on the same day.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
51 | Multiple procedures performed on the same day by the same provider |