Practice Management Alert

Question: A patient suffered a blow to the head and displayed symptoms of dizziness, sleepiness, slurred speech, and confusion. To check for internal injuries and aneurysm, the attending doctor ordered a CT scan (70460), which revealed no evidence of serious injury. My doctor then admitted the patient for observation. Can I bill for the interpretation? Louisiana Subscriber Answer: No. In a hospital or other inpatient setting, a facility radiologist or other physician may provide interpretations for all ordered tests as a matter of policy. Therefore, as the admitting, but not attending/ordering, physician's biller, you cannot report the interpretation for 70460 (Computed tomography, head or brain; with contrast material[s]). Only one person should read the diagnostic test, and the person billing for it should have a complete report. If your physician reads the films/fluoros and bills for them, then you need to have a separate note with a separate signature at [...]