CPT code 76984: Aortic ultrasound, intraoperative diagnostic2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

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

What 76984 covers

Code 76984 identifies diagnostic ultrasound of the thoracic aorta performed during an operation. It describes an examination of the aorta for diagnostic purposes, rather than ultrasound used only to guide another intraoperative procedure. Physicians report the professional portion for interpretation and the technical portion for equipment and staff, as applicable in the operative setting.

For Medicare, 76984 has physician fee schedule status C: CMS publishes no national payment, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, while modifier TC identifies the technical service. Reporting 76984 without either modifier represents the global service. The code is distinct from 76998, which describes ultrasound guidance during an intraoperative procedure.

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 76984 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

76984 rates by state

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

How the 76984 rate is calculated

Each of 76984’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 76984

The CMS indicators that decide how 76984 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

76984 compared with similar codes

How to choose

76998Intraoperative ultrasoundSurgical guidance

76984 reports diagnostic ultrasound of the thoracic aorta. Use 76998 when ultrasound provides guidance during an intraoperative procedure.

76987Epicardial ultrasoundCongenital heart disease

76987 describes diagnostic intraoperative epicardial cardiac ultrasound in congenital heart disease, rather than examination of the thoracic aorta.

93318Intraoperative TEEMonitoring purpose

93318 describes intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography for monitoring. Code 76984 is diagnostic ultrasound focused on the thoracic aorta.

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