Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Rate Your Radiopharmaceutical Skills

Question: What CPT and ICD-9 codes should I report for a patient with a primary prostate neoplasm and skeletal metastases who presents for palliative IV radiopharmaceutical therapy with Strontium 89 for the bone metastases?
Illinois Subscriber Answer: Because the palliative treatment is aimed only at the bone metastases, you should report the metastases (198.5, Secondary malignant neoplasm of other specified sites; bone and bone marrow) as the principal diagnosis. And because the treatment is palliative, you should report V66.7 (Encounter for palliative care). You should also report the primary neoplasm (185, Malignant neoplasm of prostate). To report the procedure, use 79101 (Radiopharmaceutical therapy, by intravenous administration). If you also report the Strontium, assign the appropriate units for A9600 (Strontium Sr-89 chloride, therapeutic, per millicurie).
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in Revenue Cycle Insider
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more

Other Articles in this issue of

Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

View All