Radiology Coding Alert
Report 78473 and 78461 for Thallium and MUGA
Question: How should we bill for multiple planar thallium studies or multiple-gated acquisition (MUGA) scans? Ohio Subscriber Answer: Report CPT 78461 (Myocardial perfusion imaging; multiple studies [planar] at rest and/or stress [exercise and/or pharmacologic], and redistribution and/or rest injection, with or without quantification) for multiple thallium studies. Because the descriptor refers to "multiple studies," you don't need to report additional units of the code 78461. If you perform multiple MUGA scans, report 78473 (Cardiac blood pool imaging, gated equilibrium; multiple studies, wall motion study plus ejection fraction, at rest and stress [exercise and/or pharmacologic], with or without additional quantification). If you perform a single MUGA study, report 78472 (Cardiac blood pool imaging, gated equilibrium; planar, single study at rest or stress [exercise and/or pharmacologic], wall motion study plus ejection fraction, with or without additional quantitative processing) instead. You may be tempted to report +78478 (Myocardial perfusion study with wall motion, qualitative or quantitative study [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) or +78480 (Myocardial perfusion study with ejection fraction [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) along with the appropriate perfusion code to receive payment for the wall motion and ejection fraction, but don't report either of these add-on codes, because MUGA studies include both wall motion and ejection fraction.
Radiology Coding Alert
- Collect Reimbursement for DEXA Scans on Male Patients
Most radiology coders can easily rattle off the osteoporosis and postmenopausal-state ICD-9 Codes [...] - 3 Easy Steps to DEXA Scan Diagnosis Coding
Ensuring proper diagnosis coding for dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans can be difficult enough [...] - You Be the Coder:
How should I report a portogram?
Question: Is there a CPT Code for a portogram? I can't find one [...] - Reporting 77300 Multiple Times? Read This First
Know your carrier's requirement and restrictions If you're reporting CPT 77300 multiple times on a [...] - Taking the 'S' Out of RS&I? Use Modifier -52
How to designate 'reduced services' Radiologists frequently report the radiological supervision and interpretation (RS&I) codes, [...] - Reader Question:
Report 78473 and 78461 for Thallium and MUGA
Question: How should we bill for multiple planar thallium studies or multiple-gated acquisition (MUGA) scans? [...] - Reader Question:
Report BPP Separate From Ultrasound
Question: If I perform a complete ultrasound (CPT 76805 ) or a detailed fetal [...] - Reader Question:
Extra Coccyx View Is Included
Question: When a physician orders a coccyx x-ray, but the radiology technologist takes two views, [...] - Reader Question:
NEC, NOS: There Are Differences
Question: What do ""NEC"" and ""NOS"" mean in ICD-9 coding? How should I choose between [...] - Reader Question:
Use Secondary ICD-9 for Metastases
Question: If a patient has cancer and the physician wants to evaluate for metastatic disease, [...] - Reader Question:
Report 61050 for Cervical Puncture
Question: I performed a diagnostic puncture at C1-C2. When I perform these procedures at the [...] - Reader Question:
Ultrasounds Don't Require Contrast
Question: Is there a code for a gallbladder ultrasound without contrast? New Hampshire Subscriber Answer: [...] - Reader Question:
Varicose Vein Cryosurgery: Unlisted-Procedure Code
Question: Which CPT Code should I report for interventional cryosurgery of varicose veins? Tennessee Subscriber [...] - 6 Must-Have HIPAA Training Skills
You can have all the HIPAA training in the world, but if you're not enforcing [...] - Don't Let Home Coding Turn Into a Code Red
Just because you're coding from home doesn't mean you don't have to be HIPAA-compliant. More [...] - 11 Ways to Minimize Fax and E-Mail Risks
If you want to stay out of the courthouse and the newspapers, follow these personal [...] - Fax and E-Mail Confidentiality Disclaimer
Providers who fax or e-mail protected health information should place disclaimers in their fax coversheets [...] - Reader Question:
Save Yourself Construction Costs
Question: Are physical barriers available to prevent patients and visitors from viewing computer screens?
New [...]
