Radiology Coding Alert

Plus: 835 edit deletions mean you can't assume the usual bundles are in place.With the implementation of Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) 17.3 on Oct. 1, 2011, expect trouble if you try to report chest X-rays with certain chest procedures. Here's a look at what's new for bundles.2-Doctor Rule Overcomes Chest X-Ray IssuesThe latest version of CCI adds 1,380 new edit pairs, according to Frank Cohen, principal and senior analyst for The Frank Cohen Group, LLC, in his NCCI 17.3 Update (available at www.frankcohen.com/html/access.html). Some of the new edit pairs you'll want to keep an eye on bundle chest X-rays into chest tube procedures, as shown in Table 1. The reason given was "misuse of column two code with column one code."These edits have a modifier indicator of 1, so you may override the edits with a modifier on the column 2 code when the services are distinct. For example, [...]