Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Question: My CPT 2010 manual indicates that 77371 has been revised, but the definition looks the same to me as it did last year. Did this code change?

Texas Subscriber

Answer: The change to 77371 (Radiation treatment delivery, stereotactic radiosurgery [SRS], complete course of treatment of cranial lesion[s] consisting of 1 session; multi-source Cobalt 60 based) is not in the descriptor but in the addition of the moderate sedation symbol.

The symbol, a circle with a dot in the center, means that moderate (or conscious) sedation is an inherent part of providing the procedure. As a result, you should not report moderate sedation (99143-99145, Moderate sedation services ...) alongside the service (77371).

-- Technical and coding advice for You Be the Coder and Reader Questions provided by Kelly C. Loya, CPC-I, CPhT, senior consultant with Los Angelesbased Sinaiko Healthcare Consulting.