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ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

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Assist From CPT Aids Trunk US Coding

Published on Sun Sep 06, 2009

Recent opinion lines up anatomical regions with US codes. Being that current payer policy on imaging guidance is especially strict, you don't want to miscode any ultrasound (US) services your ED physician provides. CPT Assistant has recently published a Q&A set that will help you get all the reimbursement you deserve for US service, without getting payback requests on improperly coded US. Mediastinum Is Not Necessary for Chest US CPT Assistant poses the question, "When reporting a chest US, is it necessary to include an examination of the mediastinum?" No; however, if an examination of the mediastinum is indicated, it is included in chest US (76604, Ultrasound, chest [includes mediastinum], real time with image documentation), confirms Elijah Berg, MD, FACEP, CEO of MRSI, an ED coding and billing company in Woburn, Mass. Impact: While the code descriptor does explicitly mention a mediastinum exam, you can report 76604 regardless of whether [...]
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