CPT 76700: Abdominal Ultrasound, Complete
CPT 76700 reports a complete ultrasound of the abdomen, real time with image documentation. A complete exam surveys the liver, gallbladder, biliary tree, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, and upper abdominal vasculature. In 2026 Medicare pays about $114.23 for the global service, split into a professional (modifier 26) and technical (modifier TC) component.
- Code type
- Ultrasound, abdomen, complete
- 2026 Medicare (global)
- $114.23
- Components
- Professional (26) + Technical (TC); PC/TC indicator 1
- Global period
- XXX (concept does not apply)
What is CPT 76700 used for?
CPT 76700 reports ultrasound of the abdomen, complete, real time with image documentation. A complete study requires surveying and documenting the liver, gallbladder, common bile duct, pancreas, spleen, both kidneys, and the upper abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava. It is ordered for right-upper-quadrant pain, abnormal liver tests, suspected gallstones, organomegaly, and unexplained abdominal complaints.
The companion code 76705 covers a limited abdominal ultrasound — a single organ or quadrant. Choosing between them is the central coding decision: if the report does not document the full organ set, the correct code is 76705.
How much does 76700 pay in 2026, and how does the 26/TC split work?
The 2026 national Medicare allowed amount for the global study is about $114.23. With a PC/TC indicator of 1, the global fee divides into a professional and a technical component:
| Component | Modifier | Covers | Approx. 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional | 26 | Physician interpretation and report | ~$28 |
| Technical | TC | Equipment, sonographer, overhead | ~$86 |
| Global | (none) | Both, same entity | ~$114.23 |
The two components always sum to the global figure. Confirm your locality-adjusted amount with the Medicare fee calculator.
Complete versus limited, and who bills each component
Example: a hospital outpatient department performs a complete abdominal ultrasound. The hospital bills the technical resources through OPPS, and the interpreting physician bills 76700-26 for about $28. An office that owns the machine and reads its own studies bills the $114.23 global.
- Confirm the report documents every required organ before choosing 76700 over 76705.
- In a hospital place of service, the physician appends modifier 26; the facility captures the technical side.
- Office with in-house ultrasound that also interprets: bill global, no modifier.
How does 76700 fit the abdominal ultrasound family?
Abdominal ultrasound is coded by how much of the abdomen is examined and documented.
- 76700 — complete abdominal ultrasound (full organ survey).
- 76705 — limited abdominal ultrasound (single organ or quadrant).
- 76770 — complete retroperitoneal ultrasound.
The professional and technical split works the same across all of these — see modifier 26 and modifier TC. For image-guided procedures using ultrasound, see 76942.
Frequently asked questions
The 2026 national Medicare allowed amount for the global complete abdominal ultrasound is about $114.23. That global fee is the sum of the professional component (interpretation, modifier 26) and the technical component (equipment and sonographer, modifier TC). Medicare pays 80 percent after the deductible; the patient or secondary owes 20 percent.
Append modifier 26 when a physician only interprets an ultrasound performed elsewhere — the professional component. Append modifier TC when your facility owns the equipment and the sonographer performs the scan but an outside physician reads it. Bill 76700 global only when the same entity both performs and interprets the study, common in an office with in-house ultrasound.
76700 is a complete abdominal ultrasound requiring documentation of all major upper-abdominal organs — liver, gallbladder, biliary tree, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, and vasculature. 76705 is a limited or single-organ/quadrant study, such as a right-upper-quadrant exam for gallstones. If the complete organ set is not documented, code 76705, not 76700.
Sources & further reading
Reviewed by the ImmediCare Solutions RCM team
Certified billers and coders handling claims across 50+ specialties nationwide. This entry is reviewed against current payer policy and CMS rules. Last review: Jul 5, 2026.
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