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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

76536 in Madera

Office / nonfacility

$116.77

Base rate per service

Facility setting

Not available in this setting

Base rate per service

Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.

Diagnostic ultrasound

About 76536: Soft tissue ultrasound of the head and neck

Report diagnostic head and neck soft tissue ultrasound for thyroid nodules, salivary masses, parathyroid assessment, or cervical lymphadenopathy, with stored images and interpretation.

This exam evaluates superficial soft tissue structures of the head and neck with real-time ultrasound and permanent image documentation. The most common use is thyroid imaging for palpable nodules, goiter, abnormal thyroid labs, or follow-up of known nodules. It also covers parathyroid localization before surgery, parotid and submandibular gland masses, neck lumps, and cervical lymph node assessment in head and neck or thyroid cancer surveillance. Sonographers in radiology departments and imaging centers usually acquire the images and radiologists interpret them, though endocrinologists and otolaryngologists may perform and read the study in the office.

Report one unit for a head and neck soft tissue examination, regardless of how many glands or nodes are examined. The report should identify the structures evaluated, describe findings such as nodule size, composition, and location, and reference stored images. CMS prices this diagnostic test by component: modifier 26 identifies the interpretation and report, modifier TC identifies the equipment, staff, and supplies, and billing without a modifier claims the global service when one entity provides both. Hospital-based radiologists typically bill with modifier 26 while the facility bills the technical portion.

CMS billing rules for 76536

Professional and technical components
Diagnostic test with a professional component (modifier 26, interpretation) and a technical component (modifier TC, equipment and staff); billing without a modifier is the global service.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU0.55 · 17%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU2.66 · 82%
  • Malpractice RVU0.04 · 1%

991.7K

Medicare services in 2024 · #142 by national volume

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.

76536 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Madera, from the same CMS release.

93880

Carotid duplex

Complete bilateral extracranial study

$203.27

93880 is a duplex vascular study of the carotid arteries with Doppler flow analysis. Use 76536 to evaluate thyroid, parathyroid, salivary glands, or lymph nodes rather than carotid blood flow.

76506

Cranial ultrasound

Real-time brain imaging

$116.80

76506 images the brain and intracranial structures, usually in infants through the fontanelle. 76536 covers superficial head and neck soft tissues such as the thyroid and parotid.

76942

Ultrasound needle guidance

Biopsy, aspiration, injection, or localization

$67.82

76942 reports ultrasound guidance for needle placement. 76536 is a diagnostic head and neck soft tissue examination with its own images and interpretation report.

76882

Extremity ultrasound

Limited joint or soft tissue

$67.58

76882 is a limited nonvascular ultrasound of an extremity. Use 76536 for a diagnostic soft tissue ultrasound of the neck, face, or salivary glands.

The same code, a different location

How does Madera compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 76536 is $116.91—$0.14 higher than the $116.77 rate in Madera. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

76536 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Madera · This locality

    $116.77

  2. Bakersfield

    $116.91

    $0.14 higher than Madera

  3. Chico

    $116.77

    The same base rate than Madera

  4. El Centro

    $116.78

    $0.01 higher than Madera

  5. Fresno

    $116.77

    The same base rate than Madera

  6. Hanford-Corcoran

    $116.77

    The same base rate than Madera

  7. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)

    $125.12

    $8.35 higher than Madera

Other payment areas listed in California appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.

Across 109 of 109 CMS payment localities with a supported office rate, 76536 ranges from $95.38 in Arkansas to $149.22 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty). This is a geographic range, not an average.

The code’s RVUs stay the same in these comparisons. Geographic adjustments to work, practice expense and malpractice change the dollar amount. A city name alone may not identify the payment area for a service address.

Compare all 108 other payment areas

  • Merced

    California · 76536

    Office

    $116.77

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Madera for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 76536

    Office

    $116.77

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Madera for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 76536

    Office

    $137.31

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.54 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 76536

    Office

    $124.73

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.96 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 76536

    Office

    $116.77

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 76536

    Office

    $116.77

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Madera for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 76536

    Office

    $117.22

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.45 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 76536

    Office

    $123.08

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.31 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 76536

    Office

    $122.63

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.86 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 76536

    Office

    $125.91

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.14 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 76536

    Office

    $146.00

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $29.23 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)

    California · 76536

    Office

    $145.96

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $29.19 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)

    California · 76536

    Office

    $149.22

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $32.45 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)

    California · 76536

    Office

    $149.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $32.27 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 76536

    Office

    $120.59

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.82 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 76536

    Office

    $127.42

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.65 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 76536

    Office

    $123.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.43 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 76536

    Office

    $128.74

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.97 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 76536

    Office

    $116.77

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Madera for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 76536

    Office

    $137.24

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.47 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 76536

    Office

    $116.77

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Madera for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 76536

    Office

    $116.77

    Facility

    Unavailable

    The same base rate than Madera for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 76536

    Office

    $125.51

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.74 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 76536

    Office

    $114.24

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.53 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 76536

    Office

    $110.86

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.91 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 76536

    Office

    $124.90

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.13 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 76536

    Office

    $122.91

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.14 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 76536

    Office

    $96.87

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $19.90 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 76536

    Office

    $95.38

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $21.39 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 76536

    Office

    $105.61

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.16 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 76536

    Office

    $114.17

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $2.60 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 76536

    Office

    $116.04

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.73 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 76536

    Office

    $107.44

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.33 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 76536

    Office

    $110.79

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.98 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 76536

    Office

    $105.32

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $11.45 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 76536

    Office

    $110.30

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.47 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 76536

    Office

    $99.21

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $17.56 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 76536

    Office

    $120.16

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.39 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 76536

    Office

    $100.20

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.57 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 76536

    Office

    $100.74

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.03 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 76536

    Office

    $102.80

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.97 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 76536

    Office

    $101.58

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.19 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 76536

    Office

    $112.11

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.66 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 76536

    Office

    $101.38

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.39 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 76536

    Office

    $99.36

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $17.41 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 76536

    Office

    $98.58

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.19 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 76536

    Office

    $103.49

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.28 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 76536

    Office

    $98.28

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.49 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 76536

    Office

    $126.40

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.63 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 76536

    Office

    $113.28

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.49 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 76536

    Office

    $115.65

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.12 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 76536

    Office

    $109.69

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.08 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 76536

    Office

    $100.94

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.83 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 76536

    Office

    $107.26

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.51 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 76536

    Office

    $106.36

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.41 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 76536

    Office

    $101.00

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.77 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 76536

    Office

    $110.19

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $6.58 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 76536

    Office

    $103.10

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.67 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 76536

    Office

    $104.29

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.48 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 76536

    Office

    $96.26

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.51 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 76536

    Office

    $95.85

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $20.92 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 76536

    Office

    $108.55

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.22 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 76536

    Office

    $102.12

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $14.65 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 76536

    Office

    $107.76

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.01 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 76536

    Office

    $100.88

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.89 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 76536

    Office

    $112.03

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $4.74 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 76536

    Office

    $124.02

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.25 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 76536

    Office

    $117.59

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $0.82 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 76536

    Office

    $101.45

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.32 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 76536

    Office

    $108.42

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.35 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 76536

    Office

    $127.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.90 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 76536

    Office

    $118.10

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.33 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 76536

    Office

    $126.49

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.72 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 76536

    Office

    $103.71

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.06 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 76536

    Office

    $100.83

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.94 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 76536

    Office

    $98.75

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $18.02 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 76536

    Office

    $118.37

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $1.60 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 76536

    Office

    $107.80

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.97 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 76536

    Office

    $112.78

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.99 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 76536

    Office

    $101.19

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.58 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 76536

    Office

    $109.51

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.26 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 76536

    Office

    $111.69

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $5.08 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 76536

    Office

    $101.60

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $15.17 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 76536

    Office

    $107.67

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.10 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 76536

    Office

    $99.85

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.92 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 76536

    Office

    $113.59

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.18 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 76536

    Office

    $100.46

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $16.31 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 76536

    Office

    $107.61

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.16 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 76536

    Office

    $108.17

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.60 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 76536

    Office

    $107.30

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.47 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 76536

    Office

    $107.85

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.92 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 76536

    Office

    $108.58

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.19 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 76536

    Office

    $103.89

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.88 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 76536

    Office

    $103.09

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $13.68 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 76536

    Office

    $106.65

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $10.12 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 76536

    Office

    $109.51

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $7.26 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 76536

    Office

    $107.00

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $9.77 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 76536

    Office

    $113.18

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $3.59 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 76536

    Office

    $129.40

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.63 higher than Madera for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 76536

    Office

    $103.90

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $12.87 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 76536

    Office

    $97.49

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $19.28 lower than Madera for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 76536

    Office

    $108.21

    Facility

    Unavailable

    $8.56 lower than Madera for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

76536 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

$95.38

$133.00

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$122.911
AL$96.871
AR$95.381
AZ$105.611
CA$116.77–$149.2229
CO$114.171
CT$116.041
DC$125.511
DE$107.441
FL$105.32–$114.243
GA$99.21–$110.302
GU$120.161
HI$120.161
IA$100.201
ID$100.741
IL$101.58–$112.114
IN$101.381
KS$99.361
KY$98.581
LA$98.28–$103.492
MA$113.28–$126.402
MD$109.69–$125.513
ME$100.94–$107.262
MI$101.00–$106.362
MN$110.191
MO$96.26–$104.293
MS$95.851
MT$108.551
NC$102.121
ND$107.761
NE$100.881
NH$112.031
NJ$117.59–$124.022
NM$101.451
NV$108.421
NY$103.71–$127.675
OH$100.831
OK$98.751
OR$107.80–$118.372
PA$101.19–$112.782
PR$109.511
RI$111.691
SC$101.601
SD$107.671
TN$99.851
TX$100.46–$113.598
UT$103.091
VA$106.65–$125.512
VI$109.511
VT$107.001
WA$113.18–$129.402
WI$103.901
WV$97.491
WY$108.211

Explore 76536 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Madera is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 17 cities and communities in California, including the examples shown here.

Some communities span more than one payment area. Follow a city link to compare all of its mapped areas, or check the service-location ZIP above for an address-level starting point.

Browse all communities in California →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 76536 in Madera. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$128.45

$116.77 × 110% = $128.45

A contract may specify another Medicare year or additional adjustments. This is percentage arithmetic on the displayed base rate, not a claim adjudication.

Working with a whole code list?

Compare an offer across your annual code mix, including an older Medicare schedule or flat per-code rates.

Compare your contract offer →

How this local rate is calculated

Each RVU component is multiplied by its own geographic practice cost index (GPCI). The three adjusted components are added, then multiplied by the conversion factor. These are the inputs used for 76536 in Madera.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

8,730

Code
76536
Physician work
0.55
Practice expense
2.66
Malpractice
0.04

GPCI2026.csv

14

Locality
Madera
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.536
Office / nonfacility calculation for 76536 in Madera
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.55× 1.0170.5594
Practice expense2.66× 1.0962.9154
Malpractice0.04× 0.5360.0214
Total RVUs3.4962
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Madera$116.77

Open 76536 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work0.551.017
Practice expense2.661.096
Malpractice0.040.536

(0.55 × 1.017 + 2.66 × 1.096 + 0.04 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $116.77

The office and facility calculations use their respective practice-expense RVUs. The facility amount here is the physician fee, not a separate hospital or facility bill.

How this rate has changed

76536 · Office / nonfacility

$116.77

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $3.10 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $113.67 to $116.77 (2.7%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $113.67changed to$116.77

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.56 changed to 0.55
    • Practice expense RVU 2.67 changed to 2.66
    • Malpractice RVU 0.05 changed to 0.04
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.017
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.093 changed to 1.096
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.560 changed to 0.536

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $113.67

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

Explore release dates and calculate this code in an earlier period →

Each row uses the accepted CMS release effective on that date and the same contractor and locality identifiers. Missing rates stay visible. Historical boundaries may differ; verify the service address for an older claim.

Inspect every release and its CMS source
Effective fromOffice / nonfacilityFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$116.77Not available in this settingRVU26D
2026-07-01$116.77Not available in this settingRVU26C
2026-04-01$116.77Not available in this settingRVU26B
2026-01-01$116.77Not available in this settingRVU26A
2025-10-01$113.67Not available in this settingRVU25D
2025-07-01$113.67Not available in this settingRVU25C
2025-04-01$113.67Not available in this settingRVU25B
2025-01-01$113.67Not available in this settingRVU25A

76536 billing questions

Should carotid artery ultrasound be billed with this code?

No. Carotid evaluation is a vascular duplex study reported with 93880 or 93882. This code is for nonvascular soft tissues like the thyroid, parathyroids, salivary glands, and lymph nodes.

Can this be billed with an ultrasound-guided thyroid fine needle aspiration?

Ultrasound guidance is included in 10005 and 10006, so this code should not be reported just for localizing the needle target. A separately documented diagnostic neck ultrasound with its own report may be reportable when medically necessary.

Which modifier does a radiologist reading a hospital outpatient study use?

The radiologist appends modifier 26 for the interpretation and report, and the hospital reports the technical portion on its facility claim. An office that provides both the imaging and interpretation bills the code without a modifier.

Is it reported per gland or per side?

Report one unit for the head and neck soft tissue examination, even when the thyroid, parathyroids, and cervical lymph nodes are all evaluated.

What documentation supports the claim?

A signed interpretation should describe the structures examined and findings, with images retained. Measurements and characterization of any nodules or nodes support follow-up studies.

Is infant head ultrasound through the fontanelle reported here?

No. Brain imaging through the fontanelle is reported with 76506. This code addresses superficial soft tissues of the head and neck, not intracranial contents.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.

Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.

RVUs for 76536PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 8,730 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for MaderaGPCI2026.csv, line 14 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet