Radiology Coding Alert

Question: How can we report ultrasound examination of transplanted kidneys? Does the code 76776 apply to ultrasound without Doppler? How can we report the Doppler component of the imaging procedure?

Louisiana Subscriber

Answer: For an ultrasound imaging of transplanted kidneys, your provider will nearly always do real-time imaging and Doppler. It is unusual for your physician to do an ultrasound without Doppler. One of the key elements of imaging the transplanted kidneys is to assess the arterial and venous flow of the kidneys and other surrounding pelvic organs.

You should report code 76776 (Ultrasound, transplanted kidney, real-time and duplex Doppler with image documentation) for ultrasound examination of transplanted kidneys with duplex Doppler. This code is inclusive of the blood flow assessments.

Make note: When you do report 76776, you shouldn’t report 93975 (Duplex scan of arterial inflow and venous outflow of abdominal, pelvic, scrotal contents and/or retroperitoneal organs; complete study) or 93976 (... limited study).

In the rare case of no Doppler: If your physician performs ultrasound of a transplanted kidney without Doppler, you should submit code 76775 (Ultrasound, retroperitoneal [e.g., renal, aorta, nodes], real-time with image documentation; limited).