Coding for ultrasound guidance used in the operating room

Q.

We occasionally go to the OR to use ultrasound to assist with D&C, fetal position, lumpectomy, and other procedures. Do we assign US intraoperative CPT^® code 76998 for this work?

A.

Truly it will vary depending upon what is actually being done. Some procedures include guidance already, so you would not assign a guidance again. But if guidance is not already included in the main procedure and you use US guidance for an open surgical procedure, you can report CPT code 76998. The code and full description are as follows:

76998  Ultrasonic guidance, intraoperative