Wiki CPC Practice Exam concern

[xtrmdj@yahoo.com]

Hey Coders,

Just going thru one of the Practice Exams for CPC and I came across this question.....




Code 76775 is specifically ( and only) stated for LIMITED. The question plainly states COMPLETE. Am I missing something here??

Thanks all!!

 

[amyjph]

You are missing the parenthetical note part. If you look in the CPT book under 76776 as the feedback states, there is a parenthetical note directing the coder to use 76775 in this case. It is because it states WITHOUT duplex doppler.

 

[xtrmdj@yahoo.com]

Thank you for responding so quickly. I did see the note but decided that it did not apply because, again, the term LIMITED is specific to 76775. Is there a guideline somewhere that explains why a limited code is allowed for a Complete procedure? Just trying to understand.

thank you again.

 

[amyjph]

You're welcome. So, I see you are getting fixated on the limited vs. complete. However, if you read in the front of your CPT book in the instructions, there is info regarding the parenthetical notes.
Also the key terms in your example: transplanted kidney and without duplex doppler.
So, if you follow the steps you would have gone to: 76776 Ultrasound, transplanted kidney, real time and duplex Doppler with image documentation>(For ultrasound of a transplanted kidney without duplex doppler, use 76775). So you would code 76775 because the parenthetical tells you to. The complete vs. limited has no bearing on this.

I know it seems crazy and hard and does not make sense. For CPT, the parentheticals take precedence. The parentheticals might also tell you not to code something here.