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Cardiology Coding Alert

Nuclear Medicine:

Prevent Nuclear Med Troubles With Just a Few Expert FAQ Answers

Published on Wed Apr 07, 2010

If you don't pay attention to "per study dose" designations, you could be setting your practice up for denials.If you miss coding the correct radiopharmaceutical (RP) used for your stress tests, you could be losing money. With special rules regarding units and multiple name-brand drugs, it's easy to see why RP claims are a common spot for errors. You can be sure your practice reports clean radiopharmaceutical and nuclear medicine claims and gets the payment it deserves by reviewing these expert answers to your most frequently asked questions.Q: Which HCPCS Codes Apply to RPs?A radiopharmaceutical is a radioactive agent often used in imaging for nuclear stress tests to help the cardiologist see how well blood is flowing to and through the heart. The HCPCS manual lists A9500-A9700 under the heading "Supplies for Radiology Procedures (Radiopharmaceuticals)."Codes for RPs commonly used for stress tests include the following:A9500 -- Technetium Tc-99m sestamibi, diagnostic, per [...]
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