Radiology Coding Alert

Be sure you catch the reportable codes that you won't find in your manual.Don't let your guard down -- CPT 2009 may include only a few new codes for the radiology section, but there are several revisions and codes outside of the 70000 range you don't want to miss. Here's a breakdown of all the codes you're most likely to use and where to find them.Remember: You should report these codes for services on or after Jan. 1.1. Scrap 10022 for Diagnostic Disc AspirationIf you automatically assign a general fine needle aspiration code to every aspiration, January brings one more reminder that when you have a specific coding option appropriate to your case, you should assign that code instead of a general one.What's new: CPT 2009 adds a code specific to percutaneous diagnostic disc aspiration.2008 method: For 2008 services, radiologists report this service with 10022 (Fine needle aspiration; with imaging guidance), says radiology coding expert Jackie Miller, CCS-P, CPC, vice president of product development for Coding Metrix in Powder Springs, Ga.2009 method: For services on Jan. 1, 2009, or later, you instead should report new code 62267 (Percutaneous aspiration within the nucleus pulposus, intervertebral disc, or paravertebral tissue for diagnostic purposes), Miller says.An explanatory note with this new code instructs you to look to 77003 (Fluoroscopic guidance and localization of needle or catheter tip ...) and 77012 (Computed tomography guidance ...) for imaging.Potential mistake: A note with 77003 states a number of codes, including 62267, include "injection of contrast during fluoroscopic guidance and localization." This note means the listed codes include the contrast injection -- not the fluoro guidance and localization. You may report 62267 and 77003 together.62287 change: Because you'll have 62267 for diagnostic aspiration, CPT 2009 revises discectomy code 62287 to clarify its use. In 2008, the code descriptor reads, "Aspiration or decompression procedure, percutaneous, of nucleus pulposus of intervertebral disc, any method, single or multiple levels, lumbar (e.g., manual or automated percutaneous discectomy, percutaneous laser discectomy)."The 2009 version deletes "Aspiration or." It also adds a note not to report 62287 with 62267.How it helps: The clinical example for 62287 involved therapeutic aspiration of a bulging disc for decompression -- not diagnostic aspiration -- but the code descriptor wasn't really clear about this. The 2009 change helps clear up confusion about proper 62287 use.2. Add These Codes to Your Nuclear Med OptionsIf you code nuclear medicine procedures, don't miss 2009 code 78808 (Injection procedure for radiopharmaceutical localization by non-imaging probe study, intravenous [e.g., parathyroid adenoma]).According to the Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM), you'll use 78808 for the resources needed to provide intravenous radioactive drugs before gamma probe localization www.snm.org/index.cfm?PageID=8125&RPID=10).You'll still use 38792 (Injection procedure; for  identification of sentinel node) for [...]