Billing code 76529: Eye ultrasoundMedicare rate & RVUs

Diagnostic ultrasound imaging of the eye is reported for an ocular echography service documented under this code, with separate reporting for each side when bilateral.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities856 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $87.18 for 76529 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $77.18–$118.59.

Medicare rate · 76529

Eye ultrasound

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
0.56
Total RVUs
2.61
Global days
XXX

National rate · 2026

$87.18

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 76529 → · Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 76529 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 76529 covers

This service uses ultrasound to examine the eye for diagnostic purposes. Ophthalmologists and other qualified eye-care clinicians may perform or interpret ocular echography in an ophthalmology office, eye clinic, or facility. The documented examination should identify the eye or eyes studied and the diagnostic ultrasound service performed; the record should support choosing this code rather than a neighboring code for a specifically defined scan or measurement.

Report the service according to the documented work and applicable claim format. CMS recognizes a professional component for interpretation and a technical component for the equipment and staff; modifier 26 identifies the professional portion, modifier TC the technical portion, and no component modifier represents the global service. When both eyes are examined, CMS pays each side separately at 100%, so document laterality and report each side as required by the claim format.

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 76529 pays more and less

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

109 payment localities

$77.18 to $118.59

$77.18$97.89$118.59
One dot per payment locality, office / nonfacility. Hover a dot to see the locality; select it to open that rate.

109 of 109 payment localities

76529 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$78.31Unavailable
Alaska*$100.46Unavailable
Arizona$84.94Unavailable
Arkansas$77.18Unavailable
Atlanta$88.51Unavailable
Austin$91.01Unavailable
Bakersfield$93.62Unavailable
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys$92.64Unavailable
Beaumont$81.03Unavailable
Brazoria$86.50Unavailable

76529 rates by state

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

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$77.18

$106.05

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
76529 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$100.461
AL$78.311
AR$77.181
AZ$84.941
CA$93.51–$118.5929
CO$91.501
CT$92.961
DC$100.311
DE$86.361
FL$84.71–$91.473
GA$80.08–$88.512
GU$96.001
HI$96.001
IA$80.841
ID$81.251
IL$81.87–$89.904
IN$81.741
KS$80.201
KY$79.601
LA$79.38–$83.332
MA$90.85–$100.922
MD$88.09–$100.313
ME$81.40–$86.202
MI$81.44–$85.502
MN$88.431
MO$77.84–$83.943
MS$77.541
MT$87.171
NC$82.291
ND$86.581
NE$81.361
NH$89.821
NJ$94.23–$99.222
NM$81.781
NV$87.081
NY$83.51–$101.985
OH$81.311
OK$79.731
OR$86.61–$94.712
PA$81.59–$90.472
PR$87.901
RI$89.651
SC$81.901
SD$86.511
TN$80.571
TX$81.03–$91.018
UT$83.031
VA$85.73–$100.312
VI$87.901
VT$86.011
WA$90.76–$103.242
WI$83.651
WV$78.771
WY$86.921

How the 76529 rate is calculated

Each of 76529’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 · 76529

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 0.56Practice expense 2.02Malpractice 0.03

2.6100 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$87.18

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 76529

The CMS indicators that decide how 76529 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 76529

Eye ultrasound

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)3Each side paid at 100% (no 150% cap).
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical1Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 26 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

76529 without 26 · national office

$87.18

Eye ultrasound

76529-26 · Professional component

$32.06

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

76529 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

76529 vs 76510 vs 76512 vs 76513 vs 76519: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 76529
    Eye ultrasound · 0.56 wRVU
    $87.18
  • 76510
    Eye ultrasound · 0.68 wRVU
    $68.81−$18.37
  • 76512
    Eye ultrasound · 0.55 wRVU
    $48.77−$38.41
  • 76513
    Eye ultrasound · 0.59 wRVU
    $76.49−$10.69
  • 76519
    Ocular biometry · 0.53 wRVU
    $69.47−$17.71

How to choose

76510Eye ultrasound
76510 identifies a combined B-scan and quantitative A-scan service. Use it when both scan types are documented rather than reporting the broader diagnostic eye ultrasound service under 76529.
76512Eye ultrasound
76512 is specifically for B-scan imaging. Select it when the documented examination is that defined scan.
76513Eye ultrasound
76513 is for ultrasound examination of the anterior segment. Distinguish it from 76529 by the documented anatomy and service.
76519Ocular biometry
76519 reports ocular ultrasound biometry with intraocular lens power calculation, typically in cataract surgical planning. It is not a general diagnostic eye ultrasound.

76529 billing questions

How should this code be distinguished from 76510, 76511, and 76512?

Check the documented ultrasound technique and service. Those neighboring codes identify B-scan with quantitative A-scan, quantitative A-scan alone, and B-scan alone, respectively; use a specifically defined code when the documented service matches it.

When should modifier 26 or TC be reported?

Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and modifier TC for the technical service, which includes equipment and staff. Without either component modifier, the claim represents the global service.

How is bilateral testing reported?

CMS pays each side separately at 100% when the service is performed bilaterally. Document which eye was examined and follow the applicable claim format for reporting each side.

Is this interchangeable with ocular biometry codes 76516 or 76519?

No. Those codes describe ocular biometry by ultrasound, with 76519 including intraocular lens power calculation. Choose based on whether the documented service is biometry or the diagnostic eye ultrasound reported under 76529.

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

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 76529PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 8,727 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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