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Radiology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Interpreting DEXA Scan Differs From Consultation

Published on Sun Dec 01, 2002

Question: Can a physician report a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan and a consultation performed on the same day? Ohio Subscriber Answer: If another physician asked the radiologist for the consultation (99241-99245 for outpatients, and 99251-99255 for inpatients), and he provided his opinion and reported it back to the requesting physician, you can bill the consult and DEXA scan (76075, Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry [DEXA], bone density study, one or more sites; axial skeleton [e.g., hips, pelvis, spine]) performed on the same day. A consult, however, also requires that the person who is billing has seen the patient for that consultation. The consulting physician would then order the DEXA scan and secondarily bill for interpreting it.

If the requesting physician only asked the radiologist to perform the DEXA scan and provide an interpretation, this would not be a consultation a request for one physician to another physician for opinion or advice and you should report only 76075.  
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