CPT code 76882: Extremity ultrasound, limited joint or soft tissue2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Missouri
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.
Medicare pays $58.56–$62.21 for 76882 in the office in Missouri, from Rest of Missouri to Metropolitan St. Louis, MO. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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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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 in Missouri
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
3 payment localities
$58.56 to $62.21
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | $61.65 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | $62.21 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Missouri | $58.56 | Unavailable |
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
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
| 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
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.
76882 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
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
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