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Radiology Coding Alert

Biliary Coding Flows From Operative Report
Attention to detail in the operative report is vital to correctly reporting interventional... Read more
Spotlight on Screening-to- Diagnostic Mammograms
CMS has announced several Medicare policy changes affecting reimbursement for mam... Read more
Unravel the Secrets of Radiation Treatment Planning
Radiation oncology practices may lose deserved revenue by inadvertently downcoding tre... Read more
Reader Question:
Follow-Up Aortogram
Question: I am trying to code an unusual situation. One physician started a procedure and ... Read more
Reader Question:
Unlisted-Procedure Denials
Question: Recently we have been getting denials when we submit claims for limited MRI stud... Read more
Reader Question:
Abdominal Versus Retroperitoneal
Question: What is included in an abdominal ultrasound (U/S), as opposed to a retroperitone... Read more
Reader Question:
Post-Mastectomy Mammography
Question: Recently a patient who had a breast removed was in for a mammogram. How should ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Billing for Staged Studies
Test your coding knowledge.  Determine how you would code this situation before ... Read more
Digitized, Screening-Mammogram Code Tops Changes for 2002
Changes to CPT Codes for 2002 will be announced officially in mid-November during the... Read more
CMS Changes to Diagnostic-Ordering Rules Fall Short
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS, formerly HCFA) announced much-a... Read more
Signs & Symptoms Versus Findings:
ICD-9 Coding for Diagnostic Tests Also Clarified
CMS also recently issued Program Memorandum B-01-61 clarifying whether signs... Read more
Reader Question:
Adrenal-Mass Biopsy
Question: How should our practice report a CT-guided needle biopsy of an adrenal mass?Iow... Read more
Reader Question:
Cancer Diagnoses
Question: We recently saw a patient who was diagnosed with breast cancer, but the physicia... Read more
Reader Question:
Sickle-Cell Strokes
Question: We recently performed a transcranial Doppler study on a patient who has sickle-c... Read more
Reader Question:
Code Chest Pain to Highest Specificity
Question: I know that the chest pain diagnosis codes require a fifth digit, but I dont alw... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Right and Left Angiograms
Test your coding knowledge.  Determine how you would code this situation before... Read more
Tips for TIPS Master Intricate Component Coding To Yield Benefits
The two coding conventions used most often to report transjugular intr... Read more
Resolve Five Perplexing X-Ray Studies
A number of x-ray studies sometimes furrow a coder's brow -- especially when... Read more
Communication With Three Key Players Brings Reward
Assigning the proper codes for x-rays obtained in an outpatient setting and ultimately bei... Read more
Correction
In the June issue of Radiology Coding Alert, the level of supervision required for magneti... Read more
Reader Question:
Post-Mastectomy Ultrasound
Question: A patient with a history of breast cancer, which was treated with a mastectomy,... Read more
Reader Question:
Mammography With No Diagnosis
Question: We received an order for mammography from a primary-care physician who indicated... Read more
Reader Question:
Ultrasound and Fluoroscopy
Question: If ultrasound guidance is used to cannulate the vein, and fluoroscopy is used t... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Billing During Credentialing
Test your coding knowledge.  Determine how you would code this situation before loo... Read more
Understand Cystography and Urethrocystography To Ensure Proper Coding
Diagnostic studies of the bladder and urethra are frequently ordered to detect anatomic or... Read more
Overcome Confusion When Reporting Ob Ultrasounds
Reporting obstetrical (ob) ultrasounds has long been plagued with problems. Definition... Read more
News Brief:
Reporting Noncovered Medicare Services
Policy-makers announced the deletion of HCPCS modifier -GX (service not covered by Medic... Read more
Reader Question:
CT Lung Screening
Question: We have begun performing CT lung screening procedures because of an affiliation... Read more
Reader Question:
Lyse-and-Wait
Question: I have been told that CPT 36870 is the appropriate code for lyse-and-wait of a... Read more
Reader Question:
Multiple MRIs
Question: Our MRI technicians indicate that there could be two separate studies performed ... Read more
Reader Question:
Additional Images
Question: A local neurosurgeon occasionally asks us to do a sagittal plane image of the sp... Read more
Reader Question:
Ultrasound of Lymph Nodes
Question: On a couple of occasions, our radiologists have been asked to perform an ultras... Read more
Reader Question:
Wasted RPs
Question: Because radiopharmaceuticals (RPs) are so unstable, practices like ours must ord... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Liver Biopsy
Test your coding knowledge.  Determine how you would code this situation before loo... Read more
Coding Tactics for Interventionalists Performing Emergency Stroke Thrombolysis
More interventional radiologists are treating stroke patients with thrombolysis, a tec... Read more
Matrix of Variables Governs Use of Thyroid Scan Codes
Nuclear medicine procedures are often used to diagnose and treat an array of thyroid... Read more
News Brief:
New Identity for HCFA
Headlining Medicare-related news this summer has been the announcement of a new name for t... Read more
News Brief:
Automatic Denial of Pre-Op V Codes Banned
Radiology coding and billing professionals are optimistic about Medicares recent directiv... Read more
Reader Question:
Biopsies of Separate Lesions
Question: During a breast biopsy procedure, our radiologist biopsied two different lesions... Read more
Reader Question:
Multiple X-Rays
Question: Which modifiers would I assign if a patient has two chest x-rays on the same day... Read more
Reader Question:
Replacement of Tessio Catheter
Question: How should I code the following: Blunt dissection was performed of previously in... Read more
Reader Question:
Defining Aspiration and Biopsy
Question: Whats the difference between aspiration and biopsy?Ohio Subscriber  Answer:... Read more
Reader Question:
Prolonged Service Codes
Question: Is it acceptable to bill CPT 99354 and CPT 99355 with any radiology procedures... Read more
Reader Question:
Place of Service
Question: Radiologists in our practice often go to another facility to read their x-rays.... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Nitroglycerin Injection During Angioplasty
Test your coding knowledge.  Determine how you would code this situation before l... Read more
New Codes Introduced:
Medicare Expands Coverage for PET Scans
HCFA continues to expand policies regulating Medicare reimbursement for positron... Read more
New PET G Codes
As of July 1, HCFA has revised or replaced G codes used to describe PET scanning for di... Read more
Diagnosis Coding Dilemma:
Report Findings or Signs and Symptoms
A debate rages among Radiology Coder about whether they should report diagnosis codes... Read more
Bill Locum Tenens With -Q6 Modifier
Summertime means sunshine, lounging by the pool, cookouts -- and vacations for co... Read more
Reader Question:
MRI Code Changes
Question: Has coding for magnetic resonance arthrography of the shoulder changed since las... Read more
Reader Question:
E/M With Mammography
Question: Our radiologist recently performed a diagnostic mammogram on an elderly Medica... Read more
Reader Question:
Tomogram of Wrist
Question: Recently, we conducted a tomogram of the wrist, which was done in a single plan... Read more
Reader Question:
Renal Ultrasound
Question: Which code should I report for a renal ultrasound -- 76770 or 76775? ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
X-rays of Surgical Specimens
Test your coding knowledge.  Determine how you would code this situation before ... Read more
Straightforward Cerebrovascular Ultrasound Coding Provides Timely Payments
CPT Code 93880 describes the gold standard for diagnostic cerebrovascular ultrasound, and... Read more
HCFA Updates Physician Supervision Rules
HCFA recently released a Program Memorandum (B01-28) updating its regulations governing ph... Read more
Use New NG Tube Code for Reporting Only
Radiology coders were delighted to find a new CPT Codes describing naso-gastric (NG) tube... Read more
Forms 855 Become Simplified
On July 1, 2001, HCFA intends to implement revised Forms 855, the applications all healt... Read more
Reader Question:
Lumbar Puncture During Cervical Myelogram
Question: Our radiologist performed a cervical myelogram and reported CPT 72240 , but his ... Read more
Reader Question:
Charging for LOCM
Question: Our radiologists use low osmolar contrast media (LOCM) for all patients schedule... Read more
Reader Question:
Coding TM Joint Views
Question: I am confused about which code to assign for CT views of TM (temporomandibular) ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Radio frequency tumor ablation
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking a... Read more
Indications for Intravascular Brachytherapy Reimbursement Are Promising
A novel application for a conventional cancer treatment is being adopted throughout the co... Read more
Devices and Method of Guidance Clarify Breast Biopsy Codes
For years, breast biopsies coding has been confusing because new procedures and equipmen... Read more
Three Steps for AV Dialysis Fistula Maintenance Coding
Some carriers are erroneously bundling services like angioplasty into CPT 36870 (thrombe... Read more
Reader Question:
Digit Modifiers
Question: Our practice performs a lot of x-rays, including patients with broken fingers an... Read more
Reader Question:
Myelopathy Diagnosis
Question: I have heard a variety of opinions on the following situation: Right lateral dis... Read more
Reader Question:
Comparison X-ray
Question: Can we code and bill for comparison films taken to establish a diagnosis? For in... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Payment for Interventional Supplies
Question: Our radiology group performs low-risk interventional procedures in the office ... Read more
Long-awaited Codes Herald Payment for Vertebroplasty
New CPT Codes describing percutaneous vertebroplasty were introduced in 2001 an addition... Read more
HCFA Fee Schedule Provides Essential Coding Information
Many coding and billing professionals view HCFAs national relative value unit (RVU) file a... Read more
Insert:
2001 National Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value File
CPT codes and descriptions only are copyright 2000 American Medical Association. All Rig... Read more
Insert:
Download the RVU File
To download the 2001 RVU file, visit the HCFA Web site at www.hcfa.gov. From the home pa... Read more
Reader Question:
Low Osmolar Contrast Material
Question: When we perform a contrast CT study, our non-ionic contrast comes packaged in a ... Read more
Reader Question:
Screening Mammogram With Previous Aspiration
Question: A patient presented for a screening mammogram. During the initial interview with... Read more
Reader Question:
Prolonged Services
Question: Is it acceptable to bill 99354 and 99355 with any radiology procedure? Penn... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Follow-up Hospital Visits
Question: A radiologist in our practice recently placed a tube in a patient to drain an ab... Read more
Mandated Payment Increase for Digital Mammography Spurs New Codes
Responding quickly to legislation raising reimbursement for digital mammography and conver... Read more
HCFA Plans to Expand Coverage Areas Attention to Detail Increases Timely PET Imaging Pay Up
Few areas of radiology coding require greater attention to detail than positron emission t... Read more
Temporary HCPCS Digital Mammography Codes
HCFA announced the addition of the following six Level II HCPCS Codes on Feb. 1, 2001: ... Read more
CCI 6.3 Edits:
HCFA Suspends Bundling E/M With Tests and Procedures
HCFA has announced the suspension of certain national Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) ed... Read more
Reader Question:
Contract Compliance
Question: Our compliance officer recently said we cannot bill a patient at the time of ser... Read more
Reader Question:
Hysterosonography
Question: How do I code a hysterosonography?California Subscriber Answer: The procedure is... Read more
Reader Question:
Carotid Doppler
Question: How do I code a carotid Doppler? Massachusetts Subscriber Answer: The co... Read more
Reader Question:
Bone Length Studies
Question: How do I code bone length studies? The test in question includes images of the h... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Coding Nuclear Medicine Scans
Question: Our radiologist performed the following procedure: 11 millicuries gallium-67 c... Read more
New Codes Provide Reimbursement for Revolutionary Endovascular Procedures
New codes added in CPT Codes 2001 to describe endovascular repair of abdominal aortic ane... Read more
Overcome the Three Biggest Diagnosis Coding Problems To Enhance Reimbursement
Getting paid for diagnostic studies often depends upon proper ICD-9 coding . Easy as that ... Read more
Reader Question:
Screening Mammogram Payment Rates
Question: What are the new payment rates that go into effect April 1, 2001, for a screenin... Read more
Reader Question:
Thrombin Injection
Question: How do I code a thrombin injection for a pseudoaneurysm of the lower extremity? ... Read more
Reader Question:
Cardiac Screening
Question: Are there codes for cardiac scoring? I am not familiar with this service, and ou... Read more
Reader Question:
Visceral Angiograms
Question: Our radiologist performed a visceral angiogram and did selective injections of b... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Abdominal Series
Question: How do I code an abdominal series? Indiana SubscriberTest your coding knowledge.... Read more
Know the Correct Combination of Nuclear Medicine Bone Scan Codes to Increase Payment
When radiologists perform multiple nuclear medicine bone scans on a patient during the sam... Read more
How to Increase Revenue With Level II Codes for Supplies
Knowing when and how to report various level II or HCPCS Codes is crucial if freestandin... Read more
Attention to Treatment Code Nuances Will Increase Payment
Coders lives became a little simpler a year ago when CPT Codes replaced four radiation t... Read more
Reader Question:
Comparison Mammograms
Question: We had a patient come to our imaging center because a previously identified lump... Read more
Reader Question:
Routine Chest X-rays
Question: We code our routine chest x-rays with V70.0. However, our compliance department ... Read more
Reader Question:
Carotid Stenting
Question: I am unable to find any codes for carotid stenting. Can you tell me how to repor... Read more
Reader Question:
Discontinued Procedure
Question: How would I code a CT-guided needle lung biopsy when the radiologist failed to g... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Modifier -77
Question: Many times, a chest x-ray is done in the morning and then repeated in the aftern... Read more
Available Years:  2001  2000  1999