Ultrasound Codes Reimbursable Per Fetus with Multiple Gestation

Effective for dates of service on or after September 1, 2012, CPT radiology codes 76820 ñ 76821 (doppler velocimetry, fetal, umbilical artery; middle cerebral artery) and 76825 ñ 76828 (echocardiography, fetal, cardiovascular system, real time with image documentation [2D], with or without M-mode recording; follow-up or repeat study; doppler echocardiography, fetal pulsed wave and/or continuous wave with spectral display, complete; follow-up or repeat study) are reimbursable per fetus with multiple gestation, up to a maximum of five, with documentation of the number of fetuses. In addition, codes 76825 (echocardiography, fetal, cardiovascular system, real time with image documentation [2D], with or without M-mode recording) and 76827 (doppler echocardiography, fetal pulsed wave and/or continuous wave with spectral display; complete) will no longer reimburse more than once in 180 days. If second and subsequent services are required, providers should bill with the appropriate follow-up codes 76826 or 76828. Source: General Medicine | August 2012 | Bulletin 458