Billing code 76770: Retroperitoneal ultrasoundMedicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $106.21 for 76770 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $94.05–$143.66.

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

What 76770 covers

Real-time ultrasound with saved images surveys the kidneys, abdominal aorta, origins of the common iliac arteries, and inferior vena cava. For suspected urinary tract disease, examination of both kidneys and the urinary bladder can also constitute a complete study. Common indications include hematuria, flank pain, hydronephrosis, acute kidney injury, and chronic kidney disease. A sonographer typically acquires images in a hospital imaging department, freestanding center, or physician office; a radiologist or other qualified physician interprets them.

Choose 76770 when the report addresses every structure required for the applicable complete examination. If bowel gas or body habitus prevents visualization, document the attempt and reason; an intentionally focused exam is reported with 76775. Retain images and record findings, including abnormalities. CMS recognizes modifier TC for equipment and staff and modifier 26 for interpretation; a provider furnishing both components reports the global service without either modifier. When multiple eligible diagnostic imaging services are furnished to the same patient on the same day, CMS's diagnostic imaging multiple procedure reduction can affect both professional and technical components.

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 76770 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

76770 rates by state

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

How the 76770 rate is calculated

Each of 76770’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 76770

The CMS indicators that decide how 76770 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

76770 compared with similar codes

How to choose

76775Retroperitoneal ultrasound

76770 requires the complete retroperitoneal survey or, for urinary indications, evaluation of both kidneys and bladder. 76775 covers an intentionally limited study, such as one kidney or a targeted recheck.

76700Abdominal ultrasound

76700 surveys the abdomen, including the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, and kidneys. 76770 covers the complete retroperitoneal survey or the qualifying kidney-and-bladder examination for urinary disease.

76706Ultrasound

76706 is a Medicare AAA screening ultrasound for eligible asymptomatic patients. A diagnostic study targeting only the aorta is a limited retroperitoneal examination (76775); select 76770 only for a complete examination.

76776Transplant ultrasound

Use 76776 for ultrasound examination of a transplanted kidney, including duplex Doppler when performed. Use 76770 for a qualifying complete examination of native kidneys or other retroperitoneal structures.

Codes related to 76770

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