Reader Question ~ Carriers Might Balk at Multiple Units of 77002
Published on Tue Jul 24, 2007
Question: When we perform multiple injections at the same time, can we report 77002 more than once?
Colorado Subscriber Answer: Technically, you should be able to report 77002 more than once for each separate service, but your carrier might have another opinion.
The descriptor for 77002 (Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement [e.g., biopsy, aspiration, injection, localization device]) says, -guidance for needle placement- in the singular. The descriptor also does not have a specific time range like some other fluoroscopic codes, so time is not a factor when you-re coding (as it is with codes such as 76000, Fluoroscopy [separate procedure], up to 1 hour physician time, other than 71023 or 71034 [e.g., cardiac fluoroscopy]).
Caution: The CCI bundles fluoroscopic guidance into numerous services, however, so check these edits before you code.