Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert
Reader Questions:
Anatomy Crucial for Proper PET Scan Coding
Published on Tue Jan 18, 2022
Question: Notes indicate our provider performed ‘PET scan, whole body.’ I reported 78811 and 78812 and received a denial. What did I do wrong? Oregon Subscriber Answer: Instead of reporting your two-code combination, you should have just reported 78813 (Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging; whole body) instead. The two codes you reported were both for “half” of the body: 78811 (… limited area (eg, chest, head/ neck)) and 78812 (… skull base to mid-thigh). This might be the best coding course if 78813 didn’t exist — but it does, and you should use it for whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) scans.
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