Wiki Ortho ultrasound

[krackers]

We have an Ortho PA who has a small ultrasound machine that he uses for needle placement as well as viewing a soft tissue injury. If he has details of the ultrasound in his chart note is that sufficient to bill for that procedure without actual images saved to the chart?

 

[NRaizman]

We have an Ortho PA who has a small ultrasound machine that he uses for needle placement as well as viewing a soft tissue injury. If he has details of the ultrasound in his chart note is that sufficient to bill for that procedure without actual images saved to the chart?

No.

You NEED to have permanent images saved to bill the ultrasound.

We do not use the ultrasound machine for storing that data, btw - you can snap a picture and paste it into the medical record. But there -must- be a permanent image stored, and that must be documented to avoid denials and be available in the case of an audit.

 

[amyjph]

If you need a reference, refer to your CPT book. See the beginning of the radiology guidelines where it explicitly states permanent images are required.