Radiology Coding Alert
Avoid Modifier 26 When You Own X-Ray Equipment
Question: Our physician used X-ray equipment in the office to place the needle prior to a hip injection. No C-arm was used. In other words, our physician did not use fluoroscopy for additional guidance. Can we append modifier 26 when reporting this service?
New Hampshire Subscriber
Answer: If your office owns the guidance equipment, you shouldn’t append modifier 26 (Professional component) to the guidance code. Report the service X-ray with 73500 (Radiologic examination, hip, unilateral; 1 view) or 73510 (... complete, minimum 2 views), depending on the number of views. Include 20610 (Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection; major joint or bursa [e.g., shoulder, hip, knee joint, subacromial bursa]) for the injection itself.
Remember: Your physician must document an interpretation report.
Related Articles
Radiology Coding Alert
- CCI 21.1:
Check These 3 New Coding Edits That Are Likely To Impact Your Practice
Check if modifiers can help you bypass a bundle, though this may not always apply. [...] - Imaging:
Basic Facts Help Make Your Way To Easy Reporting For Ultrasounds
Justify medical necessity to build rational claims; check if modifier 26 applies. Ultrasounds may be [...] - ICD-10 Coding:
Answer These Top 3 Questions To Assess Your Understanding Of Aortic Dissection
Use the fifth digit to designate site. You can take it easy. ICD-10 offers simple [...] - Verify Your Answers To The ICD-10 Coding Quiz
Check this one-to-one match for aortic dissection. Answer 1: The correct answer is option c, [...] - Reader Questions:
Differentiate Simple vs. Complex in Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Question: Our physician does stereotactic radiosurgery to treat a pineal tumor. How can we report for [...] - Reader Questions:
Submit Code 93880 for Carotid Doppler
Question: How can we report Doppler study for the carotid artery? New Jersey Subscriber Answer: You [...] - Reader Questions:
Override the bundle in 75710 with 37224 and 37228
Question: Our physician did the following peripheral vessel angiograms: Diagnostic right superficial femoral angiogram with runoff [...] - Reader Questions:
Earn For Contrast Injection with 27370
Question: Our physician assisted in a knee arthrography by injecting contrast to guide the knee arthrography. [...] - Reader Questions:
Avoid Modifier 26 When You Own X-Ray Equipment
Question: Our physician used X-ray equipment in the office to place the needle prior to [...] - You Be the Coder:
Confirm Contrast in MRA of Brain
Question: In a patient who reported for third nerve palsy, our physician did an MRA of [...]
