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Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Handle 77790 Coding Wisely

Published on Wed Feb 22, 2006

Question: What's included in code 77790?


Texas Subscriber
Answer: Code 77790 (Supervision, handling, loading of radiation source) reports just what it says: supervision, handling, and loading of the radiation source used for brachytherapy. The key is remembering that reporting the code doesn't depend on the number of sources or the complexity of the source.

Note: You should include the care of instruments involved, along with receipt of the radioelements, handling, accounting, logging, storing, inventory, and radiation surveys. Code 77790 is generally a technical-only code, because these are typically physics functions. The answers for You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were reviewed by Cindy C. Parman, CPC, CPC-H, RCC, co-owner of Coding Strategies Inc. in Powder Springs, Ga., and president, American Academy of Professional Coders National Advisory Board.
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