Question:

An “ultrasound abdomen complete” (76700) is ordered with the indication of “Abdominal pain, evaluate for Umbilical Hernia.” The hernia images are not included in our protocol of abdomen complete, but we are adding them anyway. Should we be adding an abdominal limited code, one quadrant (76705), along with the abdomen complete code 76700, or does the complete include an evaluation of hernia?

Answer:

At the same patient encounter, it would not be appropriate to charge both a complete (76700) and limited (76705) abdominal ultrasound. In this instance, submit only the code for the complete procedure (76700).

76700 Ultrasound, abdominal, real time with image documentation; complete

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