CPT code 76981: Ultrasound elastography, parenchymal tissue2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $112.56 for 76981 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $98.96–$154.67.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 76981 covers

This service uses ultrasound elastography to assess tissue stiffness across an organ’s parenchyma rather than a discrete mass. A common clinical use is evaluating liver stiffness in a patient with chronic liver disease. Radiologists and clinicians in specialties such as hepatology or gastroenterology may perform or interpret the study in office or facility settings. The code includes imaging documentation, interpretation, and a report.

Select this code when the study evaluates parenchymal tissue; focal target-lesion elastography is coded separately. Documentation should identify the organ or tissue examined, support the parenchymal assessment, and include the findings and interpretation. The service has professional and technical components: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation, modifier TC identifies the equipment and staff, and billing without either modifier represents the global service. CMS’s diagnostic imaging multiple-procedure reduction applies to both components when applicable.

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 76981 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

76981 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 76981 rate is calculated

Each of 76981’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 76981

The CMS indicators that decide how 76981 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

76981 compared with similar codes

How to choose

76982Ultrasound elastographyFirst target lesion

76981 assesses parenchymal tissue, commonly the liver; 76982 evaluates a discrete target lesion.

76983Ultrasound elastographyEach additional target lesion

76983 reports an additional target lesion in the 76982 lesion-elastography service, not another parenchymal assessment under 76981.

76978Contrast ultrasoundFirst target lesion

76978 uses contrast-enhanced ultrasound to assess a lesion; 76981 evaluates stiffness across parenchymal tissue.

Codes related to 76981

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates