Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Question: Our neurologist (on call for that week) ordered an MRI, MRA and CT scan for a patient seen at the hospital. Can he charge for reading the tests even though the radiology department has already billed? Also, if a new patient brings films to his initial consult, can the doctor bill for reading the tests, which were provided some time ago and have been previously read (the patient is coming in for a second opinion)? Neurology Discussion Group Participant Answer: In either case, the physician cannot bill separately for reading the test results. Because the radiologist or other physician has reviewed the tests and dictated a report already (and presumably charged for these services), your physician would be double-billing if he reported the services a second time. Rather, review of laboratory and other diagnostic tests is included as part of any E/M service reported, which you may consider as a component of medical decision-making when assigning an E/M level.