HCPCS Update:
Time to Learn New LOCM Codes -- Again
Published on Sun Feb 11, 2007
This round, HCPCS combines amounts to narrow your coding options You'll be ringing in the New Year erasing 2007's low osmolar contrast material (LOCM) codes from your memory and replacing them with three new temporary Q codes. Use this handy crosswalk to make the transition a little smoother. Other HCPCS news: HCPCS 2008 is also deleting Q9952 (Injection, gadolinium-based magnetic resonance contrast agent, per ml), which you've probably been reporting with your MRI exams. You'll find a new gadolinium code, A9579 (Injection, gadolinium-based magnetic resonance contrast agent, not otherwise specified [NOS], per ml), in the Administrative, Miscellaneous and Investigational section. You should also note new MRI contrast injection codes A9576 (Injection, gadoteridol [prohance multipack], per ml) and A9577 (Injection, gadobenate dimeglumine [multihance], per ml), says Jackie Miller, RHIA, CPC, senior coding consultant for Coding Strategies Inc. in Powder Springs, Ga.
