Advanced Search

Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Set Your Sights on 77321 Success

Published on Mon Oct 26, 2009

Question: Is 77321 appropriate for all electron services? California Subscriber Answer: Not all electron services merit 77321 (Special teletherapy port plan, particles, hemibody, total body). Special teletherapy port plans often are electron plans because electrons require a high level of care, but there are certain "routine" electron fields that payers won't consider worthy of the "special" 77321 code. For example, you may find breast cancer electron boosts or lymph node treatments don't meet the stringent requirements. Documentation also may show that rather than an electron isodose plan, you have only an electron calculation. In that case, you should report 77300 (Basic radiation dosimetry calculation, central axis depth dose calculation, TDF, NSD, gap calculation, off axis factor, tissue inhomogeneity factors, calculation of nonionizing radiation surface and depth dose, as required during course of treatment, only when prescribed by the treating physician) and should not report 77321. If you do have an [...]
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 your eNewsletter
  • 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
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

View All