76770
HCPCS/CPT
Prior Authorization
Prior Auth Required
Conditional coverage; review criteria to confirm PA need (medium confidence)
Medicare Pricing
Work RVU
0.72
Facility
$3.44
Non-Facility
$3.44
Documentation Required
- Medical records must document that the ultrasound was limited to retroperitoneal structures when billing CPT 76770/76775/76776, including images/findings demonstrating limitation to the retroperitoneum.
- If the exam was expanded to include organs outside the retroperitoneum, documentation must reflect the expansion and support billing a full or limited abdominal ultrasound (CPT 76700/76705/76706).
- Claims and documentation should follow the complementary Local Coverage Determination L34577 and any applicable LCD requirements.
- The IDTF must have Palmetto GBA provider enrollment approval listing the specific CPT/HCPCS codes the facility is authorized to bill for Medicare beneficiaries.
Key Coverage Criteria
- Retroperitoneal ultrasound (CPT 76770, 76775, 76776) is covered when the exam is limited solely to retroperitoneal structures.
- A full (complete) or limited abdominal ultrasound (CPT 76700, 76705, 76706) is covered when the exam includes organs or structures outside the retroperitoneum or when primary findings involve non-retroperitoneal structures (e.g., gallbladder, liver, spleen, common bile duct).
- An IDTF must be credentialed and approved by Palmetto GBA provider enrollment to bill Medicare for a specific diagnostic procedure or material.
- Additional services and supplies (e.g., radiopharmaceuticals, special contrast agents, medications) are payable to an IDTF when the diagnostic test itself is payable and the supplies are commonly separately reimbursed to a physician in an office setting.
- A supervising physician for an IDTF must be licensed in the state(s) where tests are performed, enrolled in Medicare, not excluded, meet proficiency standards for tests supervised, and provide general supervision for no more than three IDTF sites.
- An interpreting physician must be licensed in the state(s) where tests are performed, enrolled in Medicare, not excluded, and qualified to interpret the types of tests (codes) listed on the IDTF enrollment application.
11 Active Policies
L33693 — Peripheral Venous Ultrasound
J09
L35007 — Vestibular and Audiologic Function Studies
J12
L35434 — Oximetry Services
J12
L35451 — Peripheral Venous Ultrasound
J12
L37371 — Electroretinography (ERG)
Related Codes
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