CPT code 76987: Epicardial ultrasound, congenital heart disease2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 76987 in California.

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

What 76987 covers

This service is diagnostic ultrasound of the heart performed during surgery for congenital heart disease, with an ultrasound probe placed on the heart’s outer surface. The images support intraoperative assessment of cardiac anatomy and function, including evaluation of a repair. The global service includes image acquisition and interpretation with a report. It is provided in the operative setting by clinicians involved in surgical and echocardiographic care.

Medicare lists 76987 as carrier priced (status C) under the Physician Fee Schedule: CMS publishes no national payment, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim. Report the global service without a component modifier. When the professional and technical portions are furnished separately, modifier 26 identifies interpretation, while modifier TC identifies the technical portion, including equipment and staff.

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 76987 pays more and less in California

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

29 of 29 payment localities

How the 76987 rate is calculated

Each of 76987’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 76987

The CMS indicators that decide how 76987 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

76987 compared with similar codes

How to choose

76988Epicardial ultrasoundImage acquisition only

76988 identifies image acquisition for intraoperative epicardial ultrasound. Use 76987 for the global service, including acquisition and interpretation with a report.

76989Epicardial ultrasoundInterpretation and report

76989 identifies interpretation and reporting without image acquisition. Use 76987 for the global diagnostic service.

93315Congenital TEEComplete service

93315 is transesophageal echocardiography for congenital cardiac anomalies. 76987 describes diagnostic epicardial ultrasound performed during surgery.

76984Aortic ultrasoundIntraoperative diagnostic

76984 describes diagnostic intraoperative ultrasound of the thoracic aorta. 76987 describes epicardial cardiac ultrasound for congenital heart disease.

Codes related to 76987

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