Physical therapy professionals are increasingly turning to diagnostic ultrasound as a vital tool for enhancing patient care. But along with clinical implementation comes a critical need to understand billing and documentation. One of the most important aspects of this process is learning how to accurately utilize ultrasound CPT codes.
Whether you’re incorporating musculoskeletal ultrasound, vascular screening, or abdominal assessments into your practice, this guide is designed to help you navigate the complex world of ultrasound CPT coding, understand insurance requirements, and streamline your workflow using technology.
CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) codes are used to describe medical, surgical, and diagnostic services. These codes allow for standardized communication between providers, payers, and billing systems.
Ultrasound CPT codes span from 76506 to 76999 and are categorized based on anatomical region and purpose. They help ensure that you’re accurately reimbursed for the diagnostic services you provide.
Ultrasound in physical therapy is often used for:
Here is a breakdown of the most relevant categories of ultrasound CPT codes in physical therapy and musculoskeletal applications:
Includes soft tissue structures and thyroid assessment.
Often used for evaluating the pelvic region in sports medicine or pelvic health practices.
Used for procedures like needle placement, aspirations, or guided injections.
CPT Code |
Description |
Region/Use |
76536 |
Ultrasound of soft tissues of head/neck (e.g., thyroid) |
Head/Neck |
76641 |
Complete breast ultrasound |
Chest/Breast |
76642 |
Limited or follow-up breast ultrasound |
Chest/Breast |
76700 |
Complete abdominal ultrasound |
Abdomen |
76705 |
Limited abdominal ultrasound |
Abdomen |
76770 |
Retroperitoneal ultrasound including kidneys (renal) |
Abdomen (Renal) |
76856 |
Pelvic ultrasound, non-obstetric |
Pelvic |
76830 |
Transvaginal ultrasound |
Pelvic |
76870 |
Scrotal contents ultrasound |
Genital/Scrotal |
76872 |
Transrectal ultrasound |
Genital |
76881 |
Complete joint ultrasound |
Extremities/Musculoskeletal |
76882 |
Limited joint ultrasound |
Extremities/Musculoskeletal |
76883 |
Ultrasound nerve evaluation |
Nerve/Musculoskeletal |
76942 |
Guidance for needle placement |
Interventional/Procedural |
76981 |
Elastography: parenchyma stiffness, first target |
Advanced Techniques |
76982 |
Elastography: each additional target |
Advanced Techniques |
76983 |
Elastography: monitoring, non-targeted |
Advanced Techniques |
93880 |
Carotid duplex scan, complete |
Vascular |
93882 |
Carotid duplex scan, limited |
Vascular |
Incorrect coding can lead to claim denials, compliance issues, and under-reimbursement. Given how ultrasound is growing in musculoskeletal practices, it’s critical to use the appropriate CPT code based on the anatomic site, completeness of the study, and whether guidance was provided.
Here are a few real-world physical therapy applications:
PtEverywhere is a physical therapy software solution that simplifies ultrasound documentation and billing with built-in support for CPT code workflows.
✅ Intuitive SOAP note templates include ultrasound integrationWith PtEverywhere, practice owners can focus on patient care while reducing billing errors and administrative burden.
Understanding and correctly applying ultrasound CPT codes is more than a billing task - it’s a reflection of clinical precision and professionalism. Whether you’re using musculoskeletal imaging to enhance diagnostics or guiding therapeutic injections, the right code ensures proper reimbursement and supports medical necessity.
By adopting best practices and using tools like PtEverywhere, physical therapy practices can navigate this complexity with ease, streamline operations, and improve patient outcomes. Don’t let billing bottlenecks hold your clinic back - make ultrasound a strength, not a challenge.
Ready to streamline your documentation and coding? Schedule a demo with PtEverywhere today.