Reader Questions:
Get Your Ultrasound Codes In Order Now
Published on Tue Aug 17, 2010
Question: My ob-gyn practice has a new ultrasound machine, and I need help with how to bill for this service in office. The only ultrasounds we do are for early in pregnancy to confirm viability. On rare occasions, we may use it to look for an intrauterine device (IUD) placement. What does my ob-gyn need to document in order for me to bill for this service? Also, can I bill this service under a midwife? North Dakota Subscriber Answer: An ultrasound to check for fetal viability usually means the ob-gyn is looking for a fetal heart beat. That would be76815 (Ultrasound, pregnant uterus, real time with image documentation, limited [e.g., fetal heart beat, placental location, fetal position and/or qualitative amniotic fluid volume], one or more fetuses). If the ob-gyn does more than that, you might qualify for 76801 (Ultrasound, pregnant uterus, real time with image documentation, fetal and maternal evaluation, [...]