Radiology Coding Alert
Ultrasound-Guided Breast Needle Localization
Texas Subscriber
Answer: The combination of 19290 (preoperative placement of needle localization wire, breast) and 76096 (mammographic guidance for needle placement, breast e.g., for wire localization or for injection], each lesion, radiological supervision and interpretation) would have been correct for placement under mammographic guidance.
However, 76942 (ultrasonic guidance for needle placement [e.g., biopsy, aspiration, injection, localization device], imaging supervision and interpretation) was revised in CPT 2001 for clarification and is the correct code for all ultrasound guidance for needle placement, whether for biopsy, puncture or localization. Further, had the procedure been performed under stereotactic localization, 76095 (stereotactic localization guidance for breast biopsy or needle placement [e.g., for wire localization or for injection], each lesion, radiological supervision and interpretation) would have been the correct guidance code.
Many radiology practices use cheat sheets to help them code services correctly. These tools must be updated annually to keep up with coding revisions and modifications. As of Jan. 1, 2002, new CPT codes are in effect, and new ICD-9 codes were implemented Oct. 1, 2001. Coders should check any forms or templates their offices use to make sure they have been updated to reflect new and revised codes.
Radiology Coding Alert
- UAE Involves Three Components Plus Modifiers
Interventional radiology practices consistently receive payment from Medicare and most private insurers for uterine artery [...] - CPT 2002 Introduction Contains Major Change
Radiology coders must pay close attention to language changes in the front matter of CPT [...] - You Be the Coder:
Leg Catheter for Vessel Examination
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Physician Payment Conversion Factor Decreased for 2002
Representatives from CMS explained the decreased conversion factor that will be used to determine payment [...] - Reader Question:
Interps in a Neighboring State
Question: I work for a children's hospital in Delaware. Our radiologists have been asked by [...] - Reader Question:
Ultrasound-Guided Breast Needle Localization
Question: How should I code an ultrasound-guided needle localization (i.e., wire placement) into a breast [...] - Reader Question:
Dialysis Graft Thrombolytic Infusion
Question: If our radiologist performs thrombolytic infusion on a dialysis graft for more than one [...] - UAE Coding Examples Based on Payer Reporting Preference
- Anthrax Coding Report Free on Web
Radiologists and other healthcare professionals who provide services to any patients with actual or possible [...]
