CPT code 76536: Head and neck ultrasound, thyroid, parathyroid, salivary soft tissues2026 Medicare rate & RVUs
Report diagnostic head and neck soft tissue ultrasound for thyroid nodules, salivary masses, parathyroid assessment, or cervical lymphadenopathy, with stored images and interpretation.
Medicare pays $108.55 for 76536 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $95.38–$149.22.
Medicare rate · 76536
Head and neck ultrasound, thyroid, parathyroid, salivary soft tissues
- Work RVUs
- 0.55
- Total RVUs
- 3.25
- Global days
- XXX
National rate · 2026
$108.55
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 76536 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 10 sections
What 76536 covers
This exam evaluates superficial soft tissue structures of the head and neck with real-time ultrasound and permanent image documentation. The most common use is thyroid imaging for palpable nodules, goiter, abnormal thyroid labs, or follow-up of known nodules. It also covers parathyroid localization before surgery, parotid and submandibular gland masses, neck lumps, and cervical lymph node assessment in head and neck or thyroid cancer surveillance. Sonographers in radiology departments and imaging centers usually acquire the images and radiologists interpret them, though endocrinologists and otolaryngologists may perform and read the study in the office.
Report one unit for a head and neck soft tissue examination, regardless of how many glands or nodes are examined. The report should identify the structures evaluated, describe findings such as nodule size, composition, and location, and reference stored images. CMS prices this diagnostic test by component: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation and report, modifier TC identifies the equipment, staff, and supplies, and billing without a modifier claims the global service when one entity provides both. Hospital-based radiologists typically bill with modifier 26 while the facility bills the technical portion.
This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.
Where 76536 pays more and less
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
109 payment localities
$95.38 to $149.22
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $96.87 | Unavailable |
| Alaska | $122.91 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $105.61 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $95.38 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta, GA | $110.30 | Unavailable |
| Austin, TX | $113.59 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield, CA | $116.91 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore area, MD | $115.65 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont, TX | $100.46 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria, TX | $107.61 | Unavailable |
| Chicago, IL | $110.86 | Unavailable |
| Chico, CA | $116.77 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $114.17 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $116.04 | Unavailable |
| Dallas, TX | $108.17 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $107.44 | Unavailable |
| Detroit, MI | $106.36 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis, IL | $102.80 | Unavailable |
| El Centro, CA | $116.78 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $110.79 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth, TX | $107.30 | Unavailable |
| Fresno, CA | $116.77 | Unavailable |
| Galveston, TX | $107.85 | Unavailable |
| Hanford, CA | $116.77 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam, HI | $120.16 | Unavailable |
| Houston, TX | $108.58 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $100.74 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $101.38 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $100.20 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $99.36 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $98.58 | Unavailable |
| King County, WA | $129.40 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles, CA | $125.12 | Unavailable |
| Madera, CA | $116.77 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan, NY | $124.90 | Unavailable |
| Marin County, CA | $146.00 | Unavailable |
| Merced, CA | $116.77 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston, MA | $126.40 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | $103.10 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia, PA | $112.78 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | $104.29 | Unavailable |
| Miami, FL | $114.24 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $110.19 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $95.85 | Unavailable |
| Modesto, CA | $116.77 | Unavailable |
| Montana | $108.55 | Unavailable |
| Napa, CA | $137.31 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $100.88 | Unavailable |
| Nevada | $108.42 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $112.03 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $101.45 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans, LA | $103.49 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $102.12 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota | $107.76 | Unavailable |
| Northern New Jersey | $124.02 | Unavailable |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NY | $127.67 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $100.83 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $98.75 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard, CA | $124.73 | Unavailable |
| Portland, OR | $118.37 | Unavailable |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NY | $118.10 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $109.51 | Unavailable |
| Queens, NY | $126.49 | Unavailable |
| Redding, CA | $116.77 | Unavailable |
| Rest of California | $116.77 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Florida | $105.32 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Georgia | $99.21 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Illinois | $101.58 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Louisiana | $98.28 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Maine | $100.94 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Maryland | $109.69 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Massachusetts | $113.28 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Michigan | $101.00 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Missouri | $96.26 | Unavailable |
| Rest of New Jersey | $117.59 | Unavailable |
| Rest of New York | $103.71 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Oregon | $107.80 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Pennsylvania | $101.19 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Texas | $103.89 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Washington | $113.18 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $111.69 | Unavailable |
| Riverside, CA | $117.22 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento, CA | $123.08 | Unavailable |
| Salinas, CA | $122.63 | Unavailable |
| San Benito County, CA | $149.22 | Unavailable |
| San Diego, CA | $125.91 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco, CA | $145.96 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $120.59 | Unavailable |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $149.04 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $127.42 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria, CA | $123.20 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $128.74 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $101.60 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota | $107.67 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine, ME | $107.26 | Unavailable |
| Stockton, CA | $116.77 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | $112.11 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $99.85 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $103.09 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo, CA | $137.24 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $107.00 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands, VI | $109.51 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $106.65 | Unavailable |
| Visalia, CA | $116.77 | Unavailable |
| Washington, DC area | $125.51 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $97.49 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $103.90 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming | $108.21 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City, CA | $116.77 | Unavailable |
76536 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
Explore a state
Local rates. Clear comparisons.
Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.
$95.38
$133.00
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $122.91 | 1 |
| AL | $96.87 | 1 |
| AR | $95.38 | 1 |
| AZ | $105.61 | 1 |
| CA | $116.77–$149.22 | 29 |
| CO | $114.17 | 1 |
| CT | $116.04 | 1 |
| DC | $125.51 | 1 |
| DE | $107.44 | 1 |
| FL | $105.32–$114.24 | 3 |
| GA | $99.21–$110.30 | 2 |
| GU | $120.16 | 1 |
| HI | $120.16 | 1 |
| IA | $100.20 | 1 |
| ID | $100.74 | 1 |
| IL | $101.58–$112.11 | 4 |
| IN | $101.38 | 1 |
| KS | $99.36 | 1 |
| KY | $98.58 | 1 |
| LA | $98.28–$103.49 | 2 |
| MA | $113.28–$126.40 | 2 |
| MD | $109.69–$125.51 | 3 |
| ME | $100.94–$107.26 | 2 |
| MI | $101.00–$106.36 | 2 |
| MN | $110.19 | 1 |
| MO | $96.26–$104.29 | 3 |
| MS | $95.85 | 1 |
| MT | $108.55 | 1 |
| NC | $102.12 | 1 |
| ND | $107.76 | 1 |
| NE | $100.88 | 1 |
| NH | $112.03 | 1 |
| NJ | $117.59–$124.02 | 2 |
| NM | $101.45 | 1 |
| NV | $108.42 | 1 |
| NY | $103.71–$127.67 | 5 |
| OH | $100.83 | 1 |
| OK | $98.75 | 1 |
| OR | $107.80–$118.37 | 2 |
| PA | $101.19–$112.78 | 2 |
| PR | $109.51 | 1 |
| RI | $111.69 | 1 |
| SC | $101.60 | 1 |
| SD | $107.67 | 1 |
| TN | $99.85 | 1 |
| TX | $100.46–$113.59 | 8 |
| UT | $103.09 | 1 |
| VA | $106.65–$125.51 | 2 |
| VI | $109.51 | 1 |
| VT | $107.00 | 1 |
| WA | $113.18–$129.40 | 2 |
| WI | $103.90 | 1 |
| WV | $97.49 | 1 |
| WY | $108.21 | 1 |
How the 76536 rate is calculated
Each of 76536’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.
How the rate is built · 76536
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.55
0.55 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense2.66
2.66 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.04
0.04 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
3.2500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$108.55
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 76536
The CMS indicators that decide how 76536 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 76536
Head and neck ultrasound, thyroid, parathyroid, salivary soft tissues
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 1 | Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 26 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
76536 without 26 · national office
$108.55
Head and neck ultrasound, thyroid, parathyroid, salivary soft tissues
76536-26 · Professional component
$26.39
Pays only the interpretation and report.
76536 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 93880Carotid duplexComplete bilateral extracranial study
- 93880 is a duplex vascular study of the carotid arteries with Doppler flow analysis. Use 76536 to evaluate thyroid, parathyroid, salivary glands, or lymph nodes rather than carotid blood flow.
- 76506Cranial ultrasoundReal-time brain imaging
- 76506 images the brain and intracranial structures, usually in infants through the fontanelle. 76536 covers superficial head and neck soft tissues such as the thyroid and parotid.
- 76942Ultrasound needle guidanceBiopsy, aspiration, injection, or localization
- 76942 reports ultrasound guidance for needle placement. 76536 is a diagnostic head and neck soft tissue examination with its own images and interpretation report.
- 76882Extremity ultrasoundLimited joint or soft tissue
- 76882 is a limited nonvascular ultrasound of an extremity. Use 76536 for a diagnostic soft tissue ultrasound of the neck, face, or salivary glands.
76536 billing questions
Should carotid artery ultrasound be billed with this code?
No. Carotid evaluation is a vascular duplex study reported with 93880 or 93882. This code is for nonvascular soft tissues like the thyroid, parathyroids, salivary glands, and lymph nodes.
Can this be billed with an ultrasound-guided thyroid fine needle aspiration?
Ultrasound guidance is included in 10005 and 10006, so this code should not be reported just for localizing the needle target. A separately documented diagnostic neck ultrasound with its own report may be reportable when medically necessary.
Which modifier does a radiologist reading a hospital outpatient study use?
The radiologist appends modifier 26 for the interpretation and report, and the hospital reports the technical portion on its facility claim. An office that provides both the imaging and interpretation bills the code without a modifier.
Is it reported per gland or per side?
Report one unit for the head and neck soft tissue examination, even when the thyroid, parathyroids, and cervical lymph nodes are all evaluated.
What documentation supports the claim?
A signed interpretation should describe the structures examined and findings, with images retained. Measurements and characterization of any nodules or nodes support follow-up studies.
Is infant head ultrasound through the fontanelle reported here?
No. Brain imaging through the fontanelle is reported with 76506. This code addresses superficial soft tissues of the head and neck, not intracranial contents.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.
CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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