ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert
New FAST
Ohio Subscriber
Answer: Many physicians are doing FAST exams on a research-only basis and are not billing for them. However, this procedure is being done in many centers, so its use will increase dramatically in the next couple of years.
As there is no specific code for this service, it appears the only way to charge for FAST is by using the radiology codes, with modifier -26 (professional component). The most appropriate code to use for FAST is 76705 (echography, abdominal, B-scan and/or real time with image documentation; limited [e.g., single organ, quadrant, follow-up]). It may mean even using a combination of codes requiring both the -52 (reduced services) and -26 modifiers (to equal modifier -99 [multiple modifiers]) as more areas are examined than are reflected by the 76705.
In addition to coding, there is a credentialing issue. Many hospital governing bodies feel that an individual doctor needs 40 hours of continuing medical education training and 150 proctored exams before being credentialed for FAST.
ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert
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