Radiology Coding Alert

Note these HCPCS edits, released July 1

Hospital coders, listen up: You've got a long list of magnetic resonance angiography edits to learn.
  
MRA: National Correct Coding Initiative version 12.2 makes 13 other codes components of magnetic resonance angiography and imaging codes C8900-C8920, including catheterization code 36000, venipuncture code 36410, radiology codes 76000, 76003, 76350, 76376-76377, 76942 and 76986, and injection codes 90772-90775.
 
You can use a modifier to override all of these edits except the ones governing 76350 and 76376-76377. The edits also bundle some of the MRA codes with each other (www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalCorrectCodInitEd/01_overview.asp).
 
SRS: Stereotactic radiosurgery code G0173 (Linear accelerator based stereotactic radiosurgery, complete course of therapy in one session) has earned the column 1 spot in two new edits.
 
CPT 77321 (Special teletherapy port plan, particles, hemibody, total body) is now a column 2 code to G0173. The edit has a modifier indicator of "1."

Code 77336 (Continuing medical physics consultation, including assessment of treatment parameters, quality assurance of dose delivery, and review of patient treatment documentation in support of the radiation oncologist, reported per week of therapy) is also now a column 2 code to G0173 and has a modifier indicator of "1."
 
Rule of thumb: CMS G codes typically include all of the services required for the described procedure. These edits reinforce that when you report G0173, this code incorporates all the services involved in performing stereotactic radiosurgery in a single session.
 
Remember: CMS develops G codes, so your private payer may not accept them.