Advanced Search

Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Report 78460 for Multiple Thallium Studies

Published on Fri Aug 01, 2003

Question: How should we bill for multiple thallium studies with multiple-gated acquisition (MUGA) scans?

Colorado Subscriber Answer: For the thallium, use 78461 (Myocardial perfusion imaging; multiple studies, [planar] at rest and/or stress [exercise and/or pharmacologic], and redistribution and/or rest injection, with or without quantification). For MUGA, use 78473 (Cardiac blood pool imaging, gated equilibrium; multiple studies, wall motion study plus ejection fraction, at rest and stress [exercise and/or pharmacologic], with or without additional quantification).

You may be tempted to report +78478 (Myocardial perfusion study with wall motion, qualitative or quantitative study [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) or +78480 (Myocardial perfusion study with ejection fraction [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) along with 78461, to receive payment for the wall motion and ejection fraction. MUGA studies, however, include both wall motion and ejection fraction.
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

View All