Reader Questions:
Learn Viable Codes for Viability Studies
Published on Thu Jan 27, 2005
Question: What codes should I use for "viability studies"?
Alabama Subscriber
Answer: You're most likely talking about positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. If this is the case, you should choose from the following applicable codes, depending on the documentation:
Metabolic evaluation (as initial evaluation and for all non-Medicare patient studies) - 78459 (Myocardial imaging, positron emission tomography [PET], metabolic evaluation)
Metabolic evaluation (following an inconclusive SPECT study) - G0230 (PET imaging; metabolic assessment for myocardial viability following inconclusive SPECT study).