CPT code 76820: Umbilical artery Doppler, fetal Doppler velocimetry2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports Doppler assessment of fetal umbilical artery blood flow, commonly used in high-risk pregnancy monitoring when placental circulation is a concern.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities3.3K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $45.09 for 76820 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $40.70–$58.68.

Medicare rate · 76820

Umbilical artery Doppler, fetal Doppler velocimetry

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0.49
Total RVUs
1.35
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$45.09

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 76820 →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.

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 76820 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 76820 covers

This study uses ultrasound Doppler to assess blood-flow patterns in the fetal umbilical artery, providing information about circulation between the fetus and placenta. Maternal-fetal medicine specialists, obstetricians, or sonographers working under appropriate supervision may perform it in an office, imaging department, or hospital setting. It is commonly part of surveillance for a growth-restricted fetus or suspected placental insufficiency; it is distinct from a routine fetal anatomy or growth examination.

Report the service when the umbilical artery Doppler assessment is performed and documented, including the fetus assessed, the study findings, and the clinical indication. The record should support that this was a Doppler flow evaluation rather than only a general obstetric ultrasound. CMS recognizes professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies equipment and staff, and billing without either modifier represents the global service.

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 76820 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

$40.70 to $58.68

$40.70$49.69$58.68
One dot per payment locality, office / nonfacility. Hover a dot to see the locality; select it to open that rate.

109 of 109 payment localities

76820 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$41.19Unavailable
Alaska$54.63Unavailable
Arizona$44.09Unavailable
Arkansas$40.70Unavailable
Atlanta, GA$45.79Unavailable
Austin, TX$46.62Unavailable
Bakersfield, CA$47.67Unavailable
Baltimore area, MD$47.61Unavailable
Beaumont, TX$42.53Unavailable
Brazoria, TX$44.75Unavailable

76820 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.

$40.70

$54.63

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
76820 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$54.631
AL$41.191
AR$40.701
AZ$44.091
CA$47.57–$58.6829
CO$46.841
CT$47.761
DC$51.021
DE$44.741
FL$44.38–$47.763
GA$42.29–$45.792
GU$48.471
HI$48.471
IA$42.131
ID$42.351
IL$43.24–$46.734
IN$42.551
KS$41.931
KY$41.931
LA$41.86–$43.592
MA$46.62–$51.032
MD$45.51–$51.023
ME$42.49–$44.472
MI$42.81–$44.812
MN$45.191
MO$41.24–$43.763
MS$40.981
MT$45.091
NC$42.871
ND$44.501
NE$42.331
NH$46.101
NJ$48.39–$50.632
NM$42.991
NV$44.951
NY$43.41–$52.245
OH$42.691
OK$41.901
OR$44.68–$48.172
PA$42.76–$46.722
PR$45.381
RI$46.211
SC$42.831
SD$44.431
TN$42.101
TX$42.53–$46.628
UT$43.331
VA$44.33–$51.022
VI$45.381
VT$44.321
WA$46.53–$52.022
WI$43.231
WV$41.891
WY$44.831

How the 76820 rate is calculated

Each of 76820’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 · 76820

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.49

0.49 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.83

0.83 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.03

0.03 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

1.3500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$45.09

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 76820

The CMS indicators that decide how 76820 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 76820

Umbilical artery Doppler, fetal Doppler velocimetry

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical1Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 26 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

76820 without 26 · national office

$45.09

Umbilical artery Doppler, fetal Doppler velocimetry

76820-26 · Professional component

$24.05

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

76820 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 76820

    Umbilical artery Doppler, fetal Doppler velocimetry0.49 wRVU

    $45.09

  • 76821

    Fetal Doppler, middle cerebral artery0.68 wRVU

    $90.18+$45.09

  • 76816

    Obstetric ultrasound, follow-up, each fetus0.83 wRVU

    $111.22+$66.13

  • 76818

    Fetal biophysical profile, with nonstress test1.02 wRVU

    $121.91+$76.82

How to choose

76821Fetal DopplerMiddle cerebral artery
Use 76820 for umbilical artery Doppler findings and 76821 for middle cerebral artery Doppler findings. They identify different fetal vessels.
76816Obstetric ultrasoundFollow-up, each fetus
76816 reports a follow-up obstetric ultrasound focused on fetal reassessment, such as growth. It does not identify the specific umbilical artery Doppler service.
76818Fetal biophysical profileWith nonstress test
76818 reports a fetal biophysical profile performed with a nonstress test. Choose 76820 when the documented service is umbilical artery Doppler assessment.

76820 billing questions

How is this different from a middle cerebral artery Doppler?

This code is for Doppler assessment of the fetal umbilical artery. Use 76821 for the fetal middle cerebral artery; the vessel studied determines the code.

Can it be reported with a fetal growth ultrasound?

It may be reported with a separately performed growth assessment, such as 76816, when both the growth ultrasound and umbilical artery Doppler are documented as distinct services.

What do modifiers 26 and TC identify?

Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, while modifier TC identifies the technical service, including equipment and staff. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.

What documentation supports reporting this code?

Document the clinical reason for the Doppler, which fetus and vessel were assessed, and the flow findings or interpretation. A general obstetric ultrasound without a documented umbilical artery Doppler assessment does not support this service.

Is this the same as a fetal biophysical profile?

No. This code reports umbilical artery blood-flow assessment; 76818 and 76819 report fetal biophysical profile services, with and without a nonstress test, respectively.

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
RVUs for 76820PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 8,802 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 76820 pays?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets · Coming soon

Put 76820 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Join the waitlist