Radiology Coding Alert

Question: I've got a report for eight TMJ views with the mouth in a variety of positions (closed, open, partially open, etc.). Should I report 70330 more than once?

Missouri Subscriber

Answer: Assuming documentation indicates bilateral views, you should report a single unit of 70330 (Radiologic examination, temporomandibular joint, open and closed mouth; bilateral). If the imaging was unilateral you would instead report 70328 (... unilateral).

As CPT® Assistant (May 2011) explains, "the code descriptor does not specify the number of views." So a single unit of 70330 is sufficient to report bilateral TMJ imaging with the mouth open and closed regardless of the number of views.

Additionally, CMS lists a Medically Unlikely Edit (MUE) of 1 for 70330. That means that if you report more than one unit of 70330 on a claim line, the line will be denied.