Wiki Dual energy technique with subtraction w/ chest x-ray?

Create Wiki
C

chembree

Guru
Messages
242
Location
Rockmart, GA
Best answers
0
This is the first time I have came across the below technique with a chest x-ray.... Is there a special way to code for this?

COMPARISON: None

Dual energy technique with subtraction was used on the frontal view.
The lungs are clear. There is no vascular congestion, pneumothorax, or effusion. The heart appears of normal size. The skeletal structures appear intact.

IMPRESSION:

No active disease.
 
I think that the "normal" chest x-ray procedure codes are billed even though "dual energy technique with subtraction" was utilized. To the best of my knowledge, there is no additional reimbursement.


Jean Kayser CPC CIRCC
 
I did find this information-

Dual Energy Subtraction is an advanced application for GE?s flat
panel digital radiography systems, the Revolution? XR/d and XQ/i.
A PA/AP chest radiograph exam is performed with the acquisition
of 2 images at different energy levels less than 200 milliseconds
apart and the application generates three views: a standard
radiograph, a soft tissue image with the bones ?subtracted,? and
an image of the bones and any additional calcified structures.
Dual Energy separates bone tissue and soft tissue, allowing
radiologists to view these entities in separate radiographic images.
By doing so, Dual Energy eliminates obstruction from overlying
bones and provides more information on calcification content

Because this is a review of 3 views, not just 2 this is increased work so we are going to attempt to report this with a modifier ?22. Does any one have any thoughts about this?
 
Hi, EncoderPro does not show modifier 22 as valid for CPT 71020.

Jean Kayser CPC CIRCC
 
Thank you. I see that now. I really feel like there should be something for the extra work of the 3rd view but I cannot find anything either :-(

Just an idea but what about 71020 & 71035. Any thoughts about this?
 
Hi, I don't think CPT 71035 would be right either. The lack of additional reimbursement is probably a disincentive for investing in this sophisticated equipment - especially since the radiologist has more to interpret.

Here are 2 links which mention the reimbursement:

http://www.stanthonysmedcenter.com/radiology/dual.aspv

https://www.accc-cancer.org/oncology_issues/articles/mayjune05/supplement.pdf (See page 9 toward the lower right. This was 2005 and there is no change as far as I can tell.)

If you find anything else, please let me know.

Thanks.

Jean Kayser CPC CIRCC
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top