Radiology Coding Alert

Focus on face-to-face service when choosing your code. CMS has announced a new place of service (POS) rule that every radiology practice needs to know. The new rule is that the POS code you report for your physician should reflect the "setting in which the beneficiary received the face-to-face service," according to MLN Matters MM7631. CMS has created exceptions to the rule, however, so be sure to read the rule in full and pay attention to each element. Important dates: The effective date is April 1, 2012, and the implementation date is April 2, 2012. The Pro Fee POS May Surprise You Under CMS's announced rule, "providers performing the PC [professional component] of interpretation of tests must use the POS where the face-to-face service -- test -- was performed, i.e. outpatient facility, ASC [ambulatory surgical center], etc.," says Catherine Brink, BS, CMM, CPC, CMSCS, president of NJ-based Healthcare Resource Management. In case [...]