Endocrinology · CMS status A
76536
US soft tissue head/neck (thyroid)
Ultrasound of the soft tissues of the head and neck (typically thyroid; also salivary glands, neck lymph nodes, parathyroid). CMS 2026 global wRVU 0.56, total RVU approximately 1.70, Medicare global allowable approximately $57. The first-line thyroid evaluation imaging.
Work RVU
0.59
2026 Medicare pays
$107.55
National GPCI · non-facility · CF $33.4009
RVU anatomyWork 0.59 + Practice 2.59 + Malpractice 0.04 = 3.22 total
Work (your effort)Practice expenseMalpractice
Billing guidance for 76536 is locked
- When to use it: the exact clinical situations that support billing 76536
- Documentation checklist: the 5 elements your note needs before submitting
- Common pitfalls: the 5 mistakes that get 76536 downcoded or denied
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Common modifiers
26TC
Common ICD-10 pairings
E04.1E04.9C73R59.0E21.0
Payer notes
Medicare and commercial payers cover 76536 routinely for thyroid workup. Some commercial payers require prior auth for serial thyroid US surveillance (e.g., every 6 months); document the indication and any change in nodule characteristics. Parathyroid imaging is often paired with sestamibi (78070-series) for surgical localization.
Pairs well with
Educational reference, not billing or legal advice. Verify against your payer contracts and your compliance team before submission.