CPT code 76882: Extremity ultrasound, limited joint or soft tissue2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

A focused ultrasound assessment of a joint or nonvascular extremity structure, reported when the exam targets a limited area such as a tendon or muscle.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities375.3K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $64.13 for 76882 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $57.67–$83.53.

Medicare rate · 76882

Extremity ultrasound, limited joint or soft tissue

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0.67
Total RVUs
1.92
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$64.13

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 76882 →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 76882 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 76882 covers

This code describes a focused real-time ultrasound assessment of a joint or another nonvascular structure in an extremity. Typical targets include a suspected joint effusion, a tendon or muscle, or a localized soft-tissue concern. Radiologists, sports medicine physicians, rheumatologists, and orthopedic clinicians may perform the study in an office, clinic, or imaging department. The exam includes image documentation and a diagnostic interpretation.

Choose this code when the imaging is limited to a specific structure or focused question, rather than a broader survey of the joint. The report should identify the side and anatomy examined, the clinical indication, findings, and saved images. CMS recognizes a professional component for interpretation and a technical component for equipment and staff: bill modifier 26 for the professional work, modifier TC for the technical service, or neither modifier for 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 76882 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

$57.67 to $83.53

$57.67$70.60$83.53
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

76882 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$58.39Unavailable
Alaska$77.17Unavailable
Arizona$62.65Unavailable
Arkansas$57.67Unavailable
Atlanta, GA$65.17Unavailable
Austin, TX$66.31Unavailable
Bakersfield, CA$67.75Unavailable
Baltimore area, MD$67.81Unavailable
Beaumont, TX$60.40Unavailable
Brazoria, TX$63.58Unavailable

76882 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.

$57.67

$77.17

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

View every state and territory as a table
76882 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$77.171
AL$58.391
AR$57.671
AZ$62.651
CA$67.58–$83.5329
CO$66.601
CT$68.011
DC$72.661
DE$63.591
FL$63.21–$68.333
GA$60.12–$65.172
GU$68.921
HI$68.921
IA$59.721
ID$60.041
IL$61.58–$66.664
IN$60.351
KS$59.451
KY$59.541
LA$59.45–$61.992
MA$66.27–$72.642
MD$64.70–$72.663
ME$60.29–$63.152
MI$60.86–$63.872
MN$64.121
MO$58.56–$62.213
MS$58.121
MT$64.131
NC$60.841
ND$63.141
NE$60.001
NH$65.561
NJ$68.87–$72.072
NM$61.141
NV$63.891
NY$61.63–$74.575
OH$60.661
OK$59.471
OR$63.47–$68.512
PA$60.75–$66.502
PR$64.551
RI$65.701
SC$60.831
SD$63.021
TN$59.711
TX$60.40–$66.318
UT$61.551
VA$62.96–$72.662
VI$64.551
VT$62.901
WA$66.15–$74.042
WI$61.291
WV$59.601
WY$63.701

How the 76882 rate is calculated

Each of 76882’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 · 76882

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.67

0.67 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.20

1.20 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.05

0.05 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

1.9200

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$64.13

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 76882

The CMS indicators that decide how 76882 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 76882

Extremity ultrasound, limited joint or soft tissue

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

76882 without 26 · national office

$64.13

Extremity ultrasound, limited joint or soft tissue

76882-26 · Professional component

$32.06

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

76882 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 76882

    Extremity ultrasound, limited joint or soft tissue0.67 wRVU

    $64.13

  • 76881

    Joint ultrasound, complete examination0.88 wRVU

    $53.78−$10.35

  • 76883

    Nerve ultrasound, one extremity, comprehensive1.18 wRVU

    $74.48+$10.35

  • 20611

    Joint aspiration/injection, ultrasound-guided major joint or bursa1.07 wRVU

    $104.21+$40.08

How to choose

76881Joint ultrasoundComplete examination
76881 is for a comprehensive joint examination; 76882 is for a focused assessment of a specific structure or clinical question.
76883Nerve ultrasoundOne extremity, comprehensive
76883 describes a comprehensive ultrasound evaluation of a peripheral nerve and accompanying structures in one extremity, rather than a limited joint or nonvascular structure exam.
20611Joint aspiration/injectionUltrasound-guided major joint or bursa
20611 covers major-joint or bursal aspiration or injection with ultrasound guidance. 76882 is a diagnostic limited ultrasound, not a code for guidance alone.

76882 billing questions

When should 76882 be selected instead of 76881?

Use 76882 for a focused assessment of a specific structure or question. Use 76881 when the examination evaluates the joint comprehensively.

Can 76882 be reported for ultrasound guidance during a joint injection?

Do not use 76882 solely to represent needle guidance. Code 20611 describes major-joint or bursal aspiration or injection performed with ultrasound guidance.

Which modifiers identify the professional and technical services?

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

What documentation supports a limited extremity ultrasound?

Document the clinical indication, side and specific structure examined, focused findings, saved images, and the interpreting clinician’s report.

How does 76882 differ from a peripheral nerve ultrasound?

Use 76882 for a limited joint or nonvascular extremity assessment. Code 76883 is for a comprehensive ultrasound evaluation of a nerve and accompanying structures in one extremity.

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 76882PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 8,844 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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