CPT
70450 — CT scan of head/brain without contrast
Same scan can cost 5x more at a hospital than at an imaging center.
Imaging
76801 — Ultrasound, pregnant uterus, real time with image documentation; first trimester , transabdominal approach
A transabdominal ultrasound of the pregnant uterus during the first trimester (before 14 weeks) to confirm pregnancy, assess the number of embryos, estimate gestational age, and check for ectopic pregnancy or early pr...
- Typical setting: Hospital, imaging center, OB clinic
- National avg charge (illustrative): $80–$200 Medicare/Medicaid allowed; $130–$450 commercial; varies by region
- Most-disputed reason: Billing 76801 (first trimester transabdominal) and 76817 (transvaginal during pregnancy) together without documentation that both approaches were clinically necessary on the same date
What it means
What 76801 actually means
A transabdominal ultrasound of the pregnant uterus during the first trimester (before 14 weeks) to confirm pregnancy, assess the number of embryos, estimate gestational age, and check for ectopic pregnancy or early pregnancy complications. This is typically the first obstetric ultrasound.
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).
- Billing 76801 (first trimester transabdominal) and 76817 (transvaginal during pregnancy) together without documentation that both approaches were clinically necessary on the same date
- Billing 76801 after 14 weeks of pregnancy — the correct code is 76805 for second/third trimester
- Billing 76802 (each additional fetus) when no additional fetuses were examined — 76802 requires documentation of examination of each additional gestation
If you see 76801 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 76801 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 76801 on a bill.
76801 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 76801 usually cost?
$80–$200 Medicare/Medicaid allowed; $130–$450 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 76801?
Billing 76801 (first trimester transabdominal) and 76817 (transvaginal during pregnancy) together without documentation that both approaches were clinically necessary on the same date
What should I do if I see 76801 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 76801 before paying.
Don't pay 76801 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.