CPT 76700 is for a complete ultrasound of the abdomen. It is frequently downgraded to a limited scan during audits because the sonographer failed to document all required organs.
The 8 Required Organs
To bill a complete scan (76700), the report MUST include an evaluation of all of the following:
- Liver
- Gallbladder
- Common bile duct
- Pancreas
- Spleen
- Kidneys (Both left and right)
- Upper abdominal aorta
- Inferior vena cava (IVC)
If even one of these organs is not visualized (e.g., obscured by bowel gas) and no attempt is documented, you must down-code to the limited scan: CPT 76705.
Medical Necessity
Common indications for a complete abdominal ultrasound include elevated liver enzymes (R53.8), right upper quadrant pain (R10.11), or jaundice.
NCCI Edits
If you perform a complete abdominal scan (76700) and a retroperitoneal scan (76770) on the same day, Medicare will bundle them unless strong medical necessity justifies both distinct regions.