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Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

77300 in Focus:

Dig Into 2 Dosimetry Examples and Unlock Payment

Published on Sat Jun 06, 2009

Heres 1 question you must put to your payer. The descriptor for 77300 says its appropriate for a required calculation prescribed by the treating physician -- but after a few denials, you might start thinking that payers have their own definition of required. Heres a rundown of the service -- and the trouble with multiple units. Start With Basic Dosimetry Basics What it is: Dosimetry requires the physician to select from the available inventory of photon or electron beams and that the proper energy and modality is used for each of the simulated treatment portals. There are four parts to dosimetry: 1) basic time dose relationships, 2) isodosimetry, 3) beam shaping and organ protection, and 4) special physics services, states AMAs CPT Assistant (October 1997). The calculation of the dose within the tumor or treatment site is often performed by computer (the billable service) and checked by manual calculation (quality assurance [...]
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