dje10008
Contributor
For interpretation and report only codes for professional services, what date of service is correct? The date the dictation is created or the date it is sign and complete? Audit is stating its the date its created. But my arguement is that its not consider a "complete" interpretation until its signed off. For example, the patient had a stress test done on Monday. The dictation is started on Monday. But the provider doesn't complete his interpretation until Tuesday. What is the correct code for 93018?
Radiology Services
Typically, radiology services have two separate components: a professional and technical component. These services will have a PC/TC indicator of “1” on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value File. The technical component is billed on the date the patient had the test performed.
When billing a global service, the provider can submit the professional component with a date of service reflecting when the review and interpretation is completed or can submit the date of service as the date the technical component was performed. This will allow ease of processing for both Medicare and the supplemental payers. If the provider did not perform a global service and instead performed only one component, the date of service for the technical component would the date the patient received the service and the date of service for the professional component would be the date the review and interpretation is completed.
Radiology Services
Typically, radiology services have two separate components: a professional and technical component. These services will have a PC/TC indicator of “1” on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value File. The technical component is billed on the date the patient had the test performed.
When billing a global service, the provider can submit the professional component with a date of service reflecting when the review and interpretation is completed or can submit the date of service as the date the technical component was performed. This will allow ease of processing for both Medicare and the supplemental payers. If the provider did not perform a global service and instead performed only one component, the date of service for the technical component would the date the patient received the service and the date of service for the professional component would be the date the review and interpretation is completed.