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Radiology Coding Alert

READER QUESTION:

See CPT Guidelines on 76776

Published on Sun Jan 28, 2007

Question: We almost always see ultrasounds of transplanted kidneys with duplex Doppler. But recently one of the physicians performed one without duplex Doppler. Should I report 76776-52?


Missouri Subscriber


Answer: No -- You should report 76775 (Ultrasound, retroperitoneal [e.g., renal, aorta, nodes], real-time with image documentation; limited), according to CPT guidelines.

As you mentioned, ultrasounds of transplanted kidneys are nearly always performed with real-time imaging and Doppler, and CPT 2007 added 76776 (Ultrasound, transplanted kidney, real-time and duplex Doppler with image documentation) to reflect this standard.

Remember: When you do report 76776, you shouldn't report 93975 (Duplex scan of arterial inflow and venous outflow of abdominal, pelvic, scrotal contents and/or retroperitoneal organs; complete study) or 93976 (... limited study).
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