Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Pay close attention to modifier indicators -- and when modifier 59 is safe to use.Effective July 1, you have more than 16,000 new edit pairs to comply with, thanks to Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) Version 16.2.The update brings "the total number of active edit pairs to 653,718," said senior analyst Frank Cohen, MPA, MBB, of MIT Solutions, in a June 17 announcement about the CCI changes. Save yourself some time by homing in on the following edits, which are among the most likely to affect your oncology practice.1. Keep Imaging/Guidance Off of 77785-77787 ClaimsCCI bundled several imaging and guidance codes into 77785-77787 (Remote afterloading high dose rate radionuclide brachytherapy ...):76645 -- Ultrasound, breast(s) (unilateral or bilateral), real time with image documentation76942 -- Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement ...77002 -- Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement ...77012 -- Computed tomography guidance for needle placement ...77021 -- Magnetic resonance guidance for needle placement [...]