CPT code 76989: Epicardial ultrasound, interpretation and report2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Missouri
Reports interpretation of intraoperative epicardial cardiac ultrasound images obtained during surgery for congenital heart disease.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 76989 in Missouri.
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 76989 covers
76989 reports a physician’s interpretation and report of intraoperative epicardial cardiac ultrasound performed during surgery for congenital heart disease. The ultrasound examines the heart from its outer surface during the operation. This code represents interpretation and reporting, not image acquisition. The interpreting physician documents findings from the study; 76988 represents image acquisition when that portion is reported separately.
Medicare assigns this diagnostic test 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 portion, including equipment and staff. Billing without a modifier represents the global service. Code 76987 represents the complete intraoperative epicardial cardiac ultrasound service for congenital heart disease.
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 76989 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.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Rest of Missouri | Unavailable | Unavailable |
How the 76989 rate is calculated
Each of 76989’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 · 76989
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.00
0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.00
0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.00
0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
0.0000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$0.00
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 76989
The CMS indicators that decide how 76989 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 76989
Epicardial ultrasound, interpretation and report
| 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
76989 without 26 · national facility
$0.00
Epicardial ultrasound, interpretation and report
76989-26 · Professional component
$37.41
Pays only the interpretation and report.
76989 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 76987Epicardial ultrasoundCongenital heart disease
- 76987 represents the complete intraoperative epicardial cardiac ultrasound service for congenital heart disease. 76989 represents interpretation and reporting.
- 76988Epicardial ultrasoundImage acquisition only
- 76988 represents image acquisition; 76989 represents interpretation and reporting of the acquired images.
- 76984Aortic ultrasoundIntraoperative diagnostic
- 76984 covers diagnostic intraoperative ultrasound focused on the thoracic aorta. 76989 concerns epicardial cardiac ultrasound in congenital heart disease.
76989 billing questions
How does 76989 differ from 76988?
76989 represents interpretation and reporting of the intraoperative epicardial ultrasound images. 76988 represents image acquisition.
When would 76987 be used instead?
76987 represents the complete intraoperative epicardial cardiac ultrasound service for congenital heart disease. 76989 represents interpretation and reporting.
Which modifiers apply to the diagnostic test?
Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation, and modifier TC identifies the technical portion, including equipment and staff. Billing without a modifier represents the global service.
What should the report document?
Document the physician’s interpretation of the intraoperative epicardial cardiac ultrasound images and the findings.
How does Medicare set payment for 76989?
Status C means CMS publishes no national payment. The Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim.
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
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