CPT
70450 — CT scan of head/brain without contrast
Same scan can cost 5x more at a hospital than at an imaging center.
Imaging
76805 — Ultrasound, pregnant uterus, real time with image documentation; after first trimester , transabdominal approach
A transabdominal obstetric ultrasound performed after the first trimester (14 weeks or later) to evaluate fetal growth, anatomy, amniotic fluid levels, and placental position.
- Typical setting: Hospital, imaging center, OB clinic
- National avg charge (illustrative): $90–$220 Medicare/Medicaid allowed; $140–$500 commercial; varies by region
- Most-disputed reason: Billing 76805 during the first trimester (before 14 weeks) — use 76801 for first trimester transabdominal
What it means
What 76805 actually means
A transabdominal obstetric ultrasound performed after the first trimester (14 weeks or later) to evaluate fetal growth, anatomy, amniotic fluid levels, and placental position. It is commonly used for the standard anatomy scan around 18-20 weeks.
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 76805 during the first trimester (before 14 weeks) — use 76801 for first trimester transabdominal
- Billing both 76805 and 76817 (transvaginal) on the same date without documentation of separate clinical indications for each approach
- Billing 76806 (each additional fetus) without examining and documenting findings for each additional fetus
If you see 76805 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 76805 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 76805 on a bill.
76805 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 76805 usually cost?
$90–$220 Medicare/Medicaid allowed; $140–$500 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 76805?
Billing 76805 during the first trimester (before 14 weeks) — use 76801 for first trimester transabdominal
What should I do if I see 76805 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 76805 before paying.
Don't pay 76805 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.