Wiki Contralateral/Bilateral Views

[amylmor72]

One of our dr's shared with one of our xray techs over the weekend that it is illegal to charge for contalateral/bilateral xray views. Is this correct?
Thank you!

 

[cblack712]

Yes and no ~~ It is incorrect to bill for comparison contralateral/bilateral views. However, if there is medical reason to xray right and left of something than it would be correct to code the bilateral views. Here is an example
Patient comes to the ER with a right hand injury. ED orders right hand 3 view xray and Radiologist performs right and left hand xrays to compare a questionable right hand finding - the only correct cpt would be 73140. The left hand could not be billed.
Patient comes to ER after fall complaining of bilateral knee pain. 3 views of the Right knee and 3 views of the left knee are taken -- correct coding would be 73562 RT and 73562 LT

 

[polycoder]

I agree, comparison films are non billable. I also see bilats with comparing joints when only one joint has arthritis, or a surgeon wants to compare a normal joint with the joint to be operated on.

 

[amylmor72]

Thank you both!