radiology cpt help

[cdecristofaro]

I am having a hard time finding a cpt code for a diagnostic ultrasound. The tech did a soft tissue ultrasound on a patient's back right side. i have looked at each decription and am having no luck in finding the appropiate code for this procedure. Any suggestion??
Thanks.

[racheleporter]

ultrasound...back....try 76800

Originally Posted by cdecristofaro

I am having a hard time finding a cpt code for a diagnostic ultrasound. The tech did a soft tissue ultrasound on a patient's back right side. i have looked at each decription and am having no luck in finding the appropiate code for this procedure. Any suggestion??
Thanks.

[cdecristofaro]

I did see that cpt code but my only concern w/ this code is that it indicates spinal canal. The ultrasound we performed was soft tissue of the back? This is why i am having such difficulty. So what do you think?

[Susan Carter CPC]

We have come across this issue in the past and there isn't a specific code for Ultrasound soft tissue of back. we use the unlisted ultrasound code 76999.

[Kris Cuddy]

Typically, a specific body organ, area, or sytem is being looked at. What was the order for the ultrasound? Also, what does the report indicate was looked at and found?

[claudiak]

Good Afternoon,

Did you ever decide on a cpt code for this ultrasound soft tissue back? I am having the same situation and I agree with you that 76800 states ultrasound spinal contents and that is not what was done

Did you use an unlisted code or something else. Please help[ if you have any info. I was told that the CSI Navigator said to use 76705 us abdomen single organ limited but isn't that only for the abdomen or liver or gallbladder?

I would appreciate any info you could share.

Claudia K, CPC
Networker

[TamaraM]

Code 76705 (Ultrasound, abdominal, real time with image documentation; limited [e.g., single organ, quadrant, follow-up]) is appropriate for this lower back ultrasound.

You might be surprised to discover these other not-so-obvious anatomy/code pairings that CPT Assistant supports:

• chest wall, upper back: 76604 (Ultrasound chest [includes mediastinum], real time with image documentation)

• pelvic wall, buttock, perineum: 76857 (Ultrasound, pelvic [nonobstetric], real time with image documentation; limited or follow-up [e.g., for follicles])

• upper extremity, axilla, groin, lower extremity: 76881/76882 (Ultrasound, extremity, nonvascular, real time with image documentation).


http://codingnews.inhealthcare.com/c...5-ok-for-back/

hope this helps for future readers!

[jgf-CPC]

Although the code descriptor states “abdominal” and not “back,” CPT Assistant (May 2009) clarifies that 76705 is appropriate for a lower back or abdominal wall soft tissue mass ultrasound. Hope that helps!

[pacosta1]

At our radiology practice for an us of the back we use 76880 or now its 76882. And 76800 we see were this code is usually only reimbursed for patients 5 and under.

[srinivas r sajja]

Upper Back 76604-52

Lower Back 76705

as per ACR