Radiology Coding Alert

Question: Could you explain what the technical component is in relation to radiology services?

Wyoming Subscriber

Answer: The technical component, reported with modifier TC (Technical component …), is one of two parts that make up a procedure or service code. The other part is the professional component. Combined, the technical and professional components make up the global service.

This technical portion of the procedure comprises of the equipment, technical staff, supplies, and other related costs; whereas the professional component, reported with modifier 26 (Professional component), covers the physician’s interpretation of the images and writing the report.

Example: A patient presents to an outpatient radiology clinic for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. The radiology practice is performing the imaging test and a radiologist from another practice will interpret the results.

For this example, you’ll report the appropriate CPT^® code for the MRI procedure and append it with modifier TC to indicate that the clinic used its equipment to perform the procedure. The outside radiologist will bill the same CPT^® code, but append it with modifier 26 since they are interpreting the results.

However, if the radiology clinic performed both the imaging test and interpreted the results, you would assign only the appropriate CPT^® code because the global service was handled in-house.

Mike Shaughnessy, BA, CPC, Development Editor, AAPC