Radiology Coding Alert

According to the Appendix S: Artificial Intelligence Taxonomy for Medical Services and Procedures in the CPT^® code set, Augmentative AI is used when physicians or QHPs use machines to perform certain work and then the “machine analyzes and/or quantifies data to yield clinically meaningful output.” This process still requires a physician or QHP to interpret the results and compile a report.

Important: A parenthetical note listed under the code instructs you to use 75580 only once per CCTA examination.

Same day procedure: If 75580 occurs on the same day as the CCTA exam, then you’ll report the 75580 and 75574 (Computed tomographic angiography, heart, coronary arteries and bypass grafts (when present), with contrast material, including 3D image postprocessing (including evaluation of cardiac structure and morphology, assessment of cardiac function, and evaluation of venous structures, if performed)) on the same claim.

Find the Correct IOUS Codes for 2024

Answer 2: The 2024 CPT^® code set includes four new codes related intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) procedures.

You’ll assign 76984 (Ultrasound, intraoperative thoracic aorta (eg, epiaortic), diagnostic) when the physician uses images the thoracic aorta with ultrasound during an operation to guide the surgical procedure or to diagnose a condition during the operation.

At the same time, if the physician uses cardiac IOUS, you’ll assign one of the following new CPT^® codes:

• 76987 (Intraoperative epicardial cardiac ultrasound (ie, echocardiography) for congenital heart disease, diagnostic; including placement and manipulation of transducer, image acquisition, interpretation and report)
• 76988 (… placement, manipulation of transducer, and image acquisition only)
• 76989 (… interpretation and report only)

According to the American College of Radiology (ACR), these services are “are used to evaluate cardiovascular structures, provide intraoperative guidance, and provide real-time perioperative surgical decision-making information that may affect the intraoperative strategy (e.g., changing cannulation strategies, altering bypass targets, and identifying additional defects)” (www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/Advocacy/CPT-2024-Anticipated-Code-Changes.pdf).

Remember Which Female-Only X-ray Code Gets Deleted

Answer 3: On Jan. 1, 2024, the CPT^® code set will no longer feature 74710 (Pelvimetry, with or without placental localization). The AMA has decided to delete 74710 from the CPT^® code set’s radiology section in 2024. According to the AMA’s CPT^® Editorial Summary of Panel Actions from May 2023, 74710 is being deleted “due to low utilization” (www.ama-assn.org/system/files/cpt-summary-panel-actions-may-2023.pdf).

Code 74710 is a female-only code used in maternity exams. Pelvimetry is a type of X-ray test that allows the healthcare provider to gauge the size of the patient’s pelvic bones. This is typically done when the patient is in labor to ascertain if there’s enough room for the baby’s head to pass through. The provider might also identify the location of the placenta during this procedure. This test is a precise way to evaluate the mother’s pelvic bone structure to see if it’s suitable for a regular vaginal birth.