Clinical review: Sina Haeri, MD, MHSA (MFM) · Coder review pending · Drafted July 2026
76802Ultrasound
CPT 76802
CPT 76802: First Trimester Ultrasound, Each Additional FetusFirst Trimester Ultrasound, Each Additional Fetus
The short answer
Use 76802 once for each fetus beyond the first on a complete first trimester ultrasound. It is an add-on code, so it can only appear on a claim that also carries 76801 from the same session. Twins get 76801 plus one unit of 76802; triplets get 76801 plus two units.
Source: NCCISource: CMS MPFS 2026Source: AIUM
When to use 76802
Report 76802 when a complete first trimester scan covers a multiple gestation and the full element set, including cardiac activity and crown-rump length, is documented for each fetus. It never stands alone: no 76801 on the claim means no payment for 76802. If the additional fetus was only glanced at rather than fully surveyed, the study does not support the add-on, and after 14 weeks the multiple-gestation add-on becomes 76810.
Documentation checklist
The add-on pays for real additional work, so the report must show a complete evaluation of each additional fetus, not a single set of findings stretched across the pregnancy.
✓Complete first trimester elements documented separately per fetus
✓Cardiac activity confirmed for each fetus
✓Crown-rump length measured for each fetus
✓Chorionicity and amnionicity assessed and stated
✓Fetal number clearly stated in the impression
✓Images stored per fetus and retrievable
✓Signed interpretation covering every fetus
✓Gestational age under 14 weeks established
Global package rules
Like its parent code, 76802 is billed outside the global obstetric package and separately from 59400. Report it with 76801 only; pairing it with 76805, 76815, or 76816 fails the add-on edit because those are not its designated primary codes. NCCI
TC-26 components
76802 splits the same way its primary code does. When the interpreting physician and the equipment owner are different entities, bill the professional component with modifier 26 and the technical component with TC, matching the split used on 76801.
76802
Global: one entity owns equipment and interpretation
76802-26
Professional: interpretation only
76802-TC
Technical: equipment and technologist
Reimbursement
2026 · national Medicare averages
Component
Work RVU
Total RVU
2026 rate
76802Global
0.81
1.81
$60.46
76802-26Professional
0.81
1.18
$39.41
76802-TCTechnical
0.00
0.63
$21.04
National amounts under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (non-facility total RVU x $33.4009 conversion factor, no locality/MAC adjustment). Commercial and Medicaid rates differ. Verify current values with your MAC before billing.
Common denials
CO-B15Add-on billed without its primary code
Why it happens
76802 hit the claim without 76801, or the primary line was denied, so the add-on had nothing to attach to.
How to fix
Rebill with 76801 on the same claim for the same date of service. If 76801 denied, resolve that denial first; the add-on follows the primary.
Source: NCCI
CO-16Unit or fetus count mismatch
Why it happens
Units of 76802 did not match the documented number of additional fetuses, or the claim lacked supporting fetal-count information.
How to fix
Bill one unit per additional fetus and make sure the report states the total fetal number. Correct the units and resubmit.
Source: CMS
CO-50Multiple gestation not supported
Why it happens
The diagnosis codes on the claim described a singleton pregnancy.
How to fix
Add the multiple-gestation ICD-10 codes that match the documented chorionicity and resubmit with the corrected diagnosis pointers.
Source: CMS
CO-4Modifier 51 incorrectly appended
Why it happens
A multiple-procedure modifier was added to an add-on code, which is exempt from multiple-procedure reduction.
How to fix
Remove modifier 51. Add-on codes are billed at full value without it; only the TC-26 split applies when components are billed separately.
Source: NCCI
FAQ
What is the CPT code description for 76802?
In plain language, 76802 covers the complete first trimester ultrasound evaluation of each additional fetus in a multiple pregnancy. The first fetus is billed with 76801, and 76802 is added once per extra fetus on the same claim.
Can 76802 be billed by itself?
No. It is an add-on code and is only payable alongside 76801 from the same session. Billed alone it denies automatically.
How many units of 76802 do I bill for triplets?
Two. The first fetus is 76801 and each of the other two fetuses gets one unit of 76802, with complete findings documented for each.
Does 76802 need modifier 51?
No. Add-on codes are exempt from the multiple-procedure reduction, so modifier 51 is never appropriate and some payers reject claims that carry it.
What do I use for an additional fetus after 14 weeks?
76810, which is the add-on to the standard scan 76805. For a detailed high-risk survey the pair is 76811 plus 76812 per additional fetus.
Is 76802 part of the global OB package?
No. Obstetric ultrasounds, including the multiple-gestation add-ons, are billed separately from the global package under 59400.
CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Educational reference only, not billing, legal, or medical advice.
Maintained by Ouma Health, a maternal-fetal telemedicine practice. Printed from obcodingguide.com, content current as of July 2026.