Radiology Coding Alert

Pre-authorization snag may require ABN. If your practice performs MR urograms, you need to be prepared to handle a few reimbursement roadblocks. You may find conflicting information in researching how to code MR urograms, says Suzanne C. Hoyt, senior billing specialist with Practicare Medical Management in New York. For example, you may come across sources that say to report both abdominal and pelvic MRIs, but you'll have to reconcile this advice with certain payers preauthorizing only an abdominal exam, she says. Protect yourself: The MR urogram issue reveals several questions that need to be addressed: 1. What did the treating physician order? 2. What did your facility perform and document? 3. What did the insurance company authorize? 1. Insist on Orders for Both Exams Be sure you have orders from the treating physician for both abdominal and pelvic MRI exams before you consider reporting both -- for example, 74183 (Magnetic resonance [...]