I sorta disagree. Our office uses 76805 for our routine 20 week sonograms. The reason being is: just because you can look, doesn't mean it was medically necessary.
76805 includes: determination of gestational sacs and fetuses; evaluation of amniotic fluid, four chambered heart, intracranial, spinal, abdominal anatomy; placental location; umbilical cord insertion site; examination of maternal adnexa if visible.
76811 includes: determination of gestational sacs and fetuses; evaluation of amniotic fluid; chest anatomy; face, fetal brain/ventricles; four chambered heart; heart/outflow tracts and chest anatomy; limbs including number, length, and architecture; other fetal anatomy as indicated; placental location; umbilical cord insertion site, examination of maternal adnexa if visible, written documentation of each component of exam including reason for nonvisualization when applicable.
For us: we do 76805, and should we find something suspect, we then will move on the 76811. We do look at limbs, face, heart, brain, etc. but just because we looked doesn't mean we automatically pick 76811. I don't know if we are right or wrong, but I tend to err on the side of caution. Unless we have an indication, we tend to go with the lesser of the two, because truthfully we are looking for fetal and maternal evaluation, and then should we find a reason to go more in depth we will do so.
Again, I don't know which is better.
