Second-Day Radiopharmaceuticals
Georgia Subscriber
Answer: First, when your cardiologist performs the rest or stress portions of the SPECT scan on two separate days, you should report the test either on the first or second day using the full listing of codes (SPECT, wall motion, and ejection fraction) plus any medications supplied by your practice.
While logic may recommend that you choose the second day, some carriers want you to report the codes on the first day as the actual date of service. Check with your carriers to see which day they prefer.
Second, Medicare requires that you use an appropriate HCPCS code for radiopharmaceuticals and not the generic code 78990 (Provision of diagnostic radiopharmaceutical[s]) accepted by non-Medicare payers. Instead, you must report the specific radioisotope or stressing agent and the quantity injected. Choose from the following HCPCS codes:
