Orthopedic Coding Alert

Question: Which code should I report for a DXA scan (bone density study) on a patient's lateral spine, left hip and right hip?


Hawaii Subscriber
Answer: You should report 77080 (Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry [DXA], bone density study, one or more sites; axial skeleton [e.g., hips, pelvis, spine]) for this procedure if your practice performed the scan on dates of service on or after Jan. 1, 2007.

Code 77080 replaces the now-deleted 2006 code 76075 (Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry [DXA], bone density study, one or more sites; axial skeleton [e.g., hips, pelvis, spine]), and 77081 replaces 76076 (- appendicular skeleton [peripheral] [e.g., radius, wrist, heel]).

Tip: The descriptor refers to -one or more sites,- so you should only report one unit of 77080 regardless of how many sites you scan. Reader Questions were reviewed by Heidi Stout, CPC, CCS-P, director of orthopedic coding services at The Coding Network LLC; and Bill Mallon, MD, orthopedic surgeon and medical director at Triangle Orthopaedic Associates in Durham, N.C.