Billing code 78730: Bladder ultrasoundMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports image-documented ultrasound assessment of the urinary bladder, including postvoid residual, when added to a qualifying primary imaging procedure.
Medicare pays $73.15 for 78730 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $63.43–$103.51.
Medicare rate · 78730
Bladder ultrasound
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 0.15
- Total RVUs
- 2.19
- Global days
- ZZZ
National rate · 2026
$73.15
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 78730 → · 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
What 78730 covers
This service captures real-time ultrasound images of the urinary bladder, including assessment of residual volume after a patient voids. It is used when clinicians evaluate incomplete emptying or suspected urinary retention, including in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms or neurogenic bladder. A sonographer generally acquires images in an office or imaging setting, and the interpreting physician reviews the images and documents the findings.
Report 78730 only with a qualifying primary procedure; it is an add-on, not a stand-alone bladder scan. The record should support the clinical indication, image acquisition, interpretation, and any postvoid measurement. CMS treats payment as within the primary procedure’s global period. The diagnostic service has professional and technical components: use modifier 26 for interpretation only, TC for equipment and staff only, or neither modifier when billing 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 78730 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
$63.43 to $103.51
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $64.53 | Unavailable |
| Alaska* | $79.91 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $71.00 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $63.43 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta | $74.31 | Unavailable |
| Austin | $77.05 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | $79.62 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $78.26 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $67.02 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $72.50 | Unavailable |
| Chicago | $73.95 | Unavailable |
| Chico | $79.59 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $77.47 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $78.54 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $72.87 | Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $85.53 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $72.33 | Unavailable |
| Detroit | $71.00 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $68.06 | Unavailable |
| El Centro | $79.59 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | $74.30 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $72.20 | Unavailable |
| Fresno | $79.59 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $72.66 | Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $79.59 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | $82.30 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $72.84 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $67.55 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $68.03 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $67.18 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $66.47 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $65.59 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $85.65 | Unavailable |
| Madera | $79.59 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan | $84.65 | Unavailable |
| Merced | $79.59 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | $86.47 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $69.00 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $76.08 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $69.89 | Unavailable |
| Miami | $76.44 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $74.88 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $63.64 | Unavailable |
| Modesto | $79.59 | Unavailable |
| Montana** | $73.15 | Unavailable |
| Napa | $94.86 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $67.72 | Unavailable |
| Nevada** | $73.16 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $75.89 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $67.59 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans | $69.19 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $68.48 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | $72.95 | Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | $84.33 | Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $86.57 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $67.25 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $65.82 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $85.50 | Unavailable |
| Portland | $80.67 | Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $79.88 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $73.89 | Unavailable |
| Queens | $85.96 | Unavailable |
| Redding | $79.59 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | $79.59 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | $70.33 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $65.89 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $67.44 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $65.34 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | $67.60 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | $73.98 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $76.75 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | $67.29 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | $63.78 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $79.62 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | $69.66 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $72.78 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $67.57 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $69.66 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | $76.73 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $75.44 | Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $79.70 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $84.23 | Unavailable |
| Salinas | $83.93 | Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $86.43 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $101.24 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $101.23 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $103.51 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $103.47 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $82.50 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $87.68 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $84.39 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $88.60 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $88.73 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $67.94 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | $72.93 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | $72.41 | Unavailable |
| Stockton | $79.59 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $75.27 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $66.82 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $69.05 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo | $94.84 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $72.30 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | $73.89 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $71.90 | Unavailable |
| Visalia | $79.59 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $64.41 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $70.07 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | $73.06 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City | $79.59 | Unavailable |
78730 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.
$63.43
$91.55
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $79.91 | 1 |
| AL | $64.53 | 1 |
| AR | $63.43 | 1 |
| AZ | $71.00 | 1 |
| CA | $79.59–$103.51 | 29 |
| CO | $77.47 | 1 |
| CT | $78.54 | 1 |
| DC | $85.53 | 1 |
| DE | $72.33 | 1 |
| FL | $70.33–$76.44 | 3 |
| GA | $65.89–$74.31 | 2 |
| GU | $82.30 | 1 |
| HI | $82.30 | 1 |
| IA | $67.18 | 1 |
| ID | $67.55 | 1 |
| IL | $67.44–$75.27 | 4 |
| IN | $68.03 | 1 |
| KS | $66.47 | 1 |
| KY | $65.59 | 1 |
| LA | $65.34–$69.19 | 2 |
| MA | $76.75–$86.47 | 2 |
| MD | $73.98–$85.53 | 3 |
| ME | $67.60–$72.41 | 2 |
| MI | $67.29–$71.00 | 2 |
| MN | $74.88 | 1 |
| MO | $63.78–$69.89 | 3 |
| MS | $63.64 | 1 |
| MT | $73.15 | 1 |
| NC | $68.48 | 1 |
| ND | $72.95 | 1 |
| NE | $67.72 | 1 |
| NH | $75.89 | 1 |
| NJ | $79.62–$84.33 | 2 |
| NM | $67.59 | 1 |
| NV | $73.16 | 1 |
| NY | $69.66–$86.57 | 5 |
| OH | $67.25 | 1 |
| OK | $65.82 | 1 |
| OR | $72.78–$80.67 | 2 |
| PA | $67.57–$76.08 | 2 |
| PR | $73.89 | 1 |
| RI | $75.44 | 1 |
| SC | $67.94 | 1 |
| SD | $72.93 | 1 |
| TN | $66.82 | 1 |
| TX | $67.02–$77.05 | 8 |
| UT | $69.05 | 1 |
| VA | $71.90–$85.53 | 2 |
| VI | $73.89 | 1 |
| VT | $72.30 | 1 |
| WA | $76.73–$88.73 | 2 |
| WI | $70.07 | 1 |
| WV | $64.41 | 1 |
| WY | $73.06 | 1 |
How the 78730 rate is calculated
Each of 78730’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 · 78730
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.15Practice expense 2.03Malpractice 0.01
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 78730
The CMS indicators that decide how 78730 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 78730
Bladder ultrasound
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | ZZZ | Add-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period. |
| 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
78730 without 26 · national office
$73.15
Bladder ultrasound
78730-26 · Professional component
$7.68
Pays only the interpretation and report.
78730 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
78730 vs 51798 vs 76770 vs 76857: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 51798Bladder scan
- Choose 51798 for postvoid residual measurement with a non-imaging device. Choose 78730 for image-documented bladder ultrasound reported as an add-on.
- 76770Retroperitoneal ultrasound
- 76770 reports a complete retroperitoneal ultrasound. 78730 adds bladder imaging and residual assessment to a qualifying primary procedure.
- 76857Pelvic ultrasound
- 76857 is a limited pelvic ultrasound. 78730 focuses on image-documented bladder assessment, including postvoid residual, as an add-on service.
78730 billing questions
Can 78730 be reported by itself?
No. CMS identifies it as an add-on code that must be billed with a primary procedure.
How does 78730 differ from 51798?
78730 reports image-documented bladder ultrasound. billing code 51798 is used for postvoid residual measurement by ultrasound with a non-imaging device.
Which modifiers apply to 78730?
Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation or TC for the technical service. Report without either modifier when billing the global service.
What documentation supports the service?
Document the indication, ultrasound image acquisition and interpretation, and the residual assessment when performed. The record should also support the primary procedure billed with this add-on.
Can 78730 be paired with a complete retroperitoneal ultrasound?
It may be reported with a qualifying primary procedure such as billing code 76770 when the bladder imaging and residual assessment are performed and documented.
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
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