CPT code 76998: Intraoperative ultrasound, surgical guidance2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 76998 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 76998 covers

This code reports ultrasound guidance performed during an operation. The imaging supports the physician’s work in the operative setting. It is distinct from codes that define a particular ultrasound-guided task, such as tissue ablation or needle placement, and from codes for specifically defined intraoperative diagnostic ultrasound services, such as thoracic-aorta imaging. The physician providing the imaging service may report the global service or a separately identified professional or technical portion, as appropriate.

Medicare assigns status C, or carrier priced: CMS publishes no national payment, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim. The code represents a diagnostic test with a professional interpretation component and a technical component for equipment and staff. Modifier 26 identifies the professional interpretation; modifier TC identifies the technical component. Reporting without either modifier represents 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 76998 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 76998 rate is calculated

Each of 76998’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 76998

The CMS indicators that decide how 76998 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

76998 compared with similar codes

How to choose

76942Ultrasound needle guidanceBiopsy, aspiration, injection, or localization

76942 is for ultrasound guidance for needle placement. 76998 is for guidance performed during an operation.

76940Tissue ablation guidanceUltrasound guidance

76940 identifies ultrasound guidance for tissue ablation; 76998 describes other intraoperative ultrasound guidance.

76984Aortic ultrasoundIntraoperative diagnostic

76984 identifies diagnostic intraoperative ultrasound focused on the thoracic aorta. 76998 is the general intraoperative guidance code.

Codes related to 76998

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