CPT
70450 — CT scan of head/brain without contrast
Same scan can cost 5x more at a hospital than at an imaging center.
Imaging
76705 — Ultrasound, abdominal, real time with image documentation; limited
A limited abdominal ultrasound that evaluates only a single organ, one quadrant, or is performed as a follow-up to a prior complete study.
- Typical setting: Hospital, imaging center, OB clinic
- National avg charge (illustrative): $70–$175 Medicare allowed; $100–$400 commercial; varies by region
- Most-disputed reason: Upcoding 76705 (limited) to 76700 (complete) when the documentation or report clearly shows only a targeted evaluation was performed
What it means
What 76705 actually means
A limited abdominal ultrasound that evaluates only a single organ, one quadrant, or is performed as a follow-up to a prior complete study. It is used when only a targeted evaluation is needed (e.g., checking a specific liver lesion or gallbladder) rather than a comprehensive abdominal survey.
Common errors with this code
What goes wrong on real bills.
Most bills that look correct still contain at least one of these issues. Up to 49% of medical bills contain errors (CFPB).
- Upcoding 76705 (limited) to 76700 (complete) when the documentation or report clearly shows only a targeted evaluation was performed
- Billing 76705 as a follow-up without documenting what prior study it follows and why follow-up imaging is needed
- Billing 76705 for a technically inadequate complete study where some organs were simply not visualized — if a complete study was intended, technical failure does not change it to a limited study
If you see 76705 on your bill
Three steps before paying.
1. Get the itemized bill. If your statement only shows a summary, request the CPT-level itemized bill before paying. Generate the request language →
2. Cross-check against the EOB. Compare what your insurer's Explanation of Benefits says you owe versus what the hospital is asking. They disagree more often than people think. Read the bill-vs-EOB guide →
3. Run a free Bill Scan. Upload the bill (and EOB if you have it) and BillBusted will flag the most likely issues with this specific code in your specific state. Run free scan →
Related codes
Other codes in this category.
People who land on 76705 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
CPT
70470 — CT head/brain with and without contrast
If contrast wasn't given, 70470 is the wrong code.
CPT
70486 — CT maxillofacial area; without contrast material
Imaging — verify professional + technical components weren't double-billed.
CPT
70551 — MRI brain without contrast
Same scan can be 5x cheaper at a freestanding imaging center.
CPT
71045 — Chest X-ray, single view
Same image can cost 10x more at a hospital than a freestanding imaging center.
CPT
71046 — Chest X-ray, two views (PA + lateral)
Two-view CXR is standard. Watch the price gap between hospital and freestanding.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see 76705 on a bill.
76705 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 76705 usually cost?
$70–$175 Medicare allowed; $100–$400 commercial; varies by region. Costs vary by region, payer contract, and whether the service was performed in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a facility fee) versus a free-standing clinic.
What's the most common billing error on 76705?
Upcoding 76705 (limited) to 76700 (complete) when the documentation or report clearly shows only a targeted evaluation was performed
What should I do if I see 76705 on my bill?
Request the itemized bill and the matching EOB from your insurer. Compare the units/quantity billed against what you actually received. Run a free BillBusted scan to flag the most likely errors specific to 76705 before paying.
Don't pay 76705 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.