Radiology Coding Alert

Question: Should I report 70554 or 70555 when an MD selects and interprets functional brain MRIs if a tech administers neurofunctional tests during image acquisition?


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Answer: You should report 70554 (Magnetic resonance imaging, brain, functional MRI; including test selection and administration of repetitive body part movement and/or visual stimulation, not requiring physician or psychologist administration) when the neurofunctional tests aren't administered entirely by an MD or psychologist.

If instead an MD or psychologist designs and administers the neurofunctional tests, that MD or psychologist should report 96020 (Neurofunctional testing selection and administration during noninvasive imaging functional brain mapping, with test administered entirely by a physician or psychologist, with review of test results and report), and the MD who interprets the images should report 70555 (Magnetic resonance imaging, brain, functional MRI; requiring physician or psychologist administration of entire neurofunctional testing).

CPT guidelines instruct you not to report 70555 unless 96020 is performed and not to report 70554-70555 with brain MRI codes 70551-70553 unless you have documentation of a separate diagnostic MRI.