Radiology Coding Alert

Even January 2009 claims may benefit from fee schedule changes. CMS is adding some sizzle to your summer with three exciting Physician fee schedule changes. Sacroplasty, renal tumor ablation, and stereoscopic x-ray guidance for radiation therapy all have news you need to know now  or you could risk leaving hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the table. Effective date: CMS transmittal 1748 reveals the changes (www.cms.hhs.gov/transmittals/downloads/R1748CP.pdf). The implementation date, when carriers must be prepared to execute the changes, is July 6. But the effective date is Jan. 1, meaning that the changes actually apply to services performed as far back as Jan. 1. 1. CPT Says 72291, 72292 for Sacroplasty The AMA announced new spine-related Category III codes, implemented July 1. CMS added them to the physician fee schedule with a "C" procedure status, meaning that individual carriers will establish payment amounts. Because they are carrier-priced, the [...]