Radiology Coding Alert

CPT® updates may be hogging the limelight these days, but CPT® isn't the only code set in town. HCPCS 2013 is now available for download from the CMS site.

PET providers should check out new code A9586 (Florbetapir F18, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 10 millicuries). The code represents the supply of the PET radiopharmaceutical sold under the name Amyvid. The FDA approved the molecular imaging agent for use in assessing patients in cognitive decline. Standard use involves administering 10 mCi 30 to 50 minutes before brain PET imaging.

Resource: HCPCS 2013 is available at www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/HCPCSReleaseCodeSets/Alpha-Numeric-HCPCS-Items/2013-Alpha-Numeric-HCPCS.html. After downloading the ZIP file, open the Excel file. To review the 2013 code changes, check the Code Add Date in column AT, the Action Effective Date in column AU, and the Termination Date in column AV. For instance, the Code Add Date column for A9586 shows 20130101, indicating 2013 (year), 01 (month), 01 (day).