Beware of Included Services Causing Denials
Question: I am relatively new to coding and recently had a claim denied. One of our radiology technicians who was responsible for X-ray images checked the placement of a catheter after a heart procedure was performed and reported 74019. Code 75625 was the only other code related to our technician on the submitted claim. Why was my claim denied? Kentucky Subscriber Answer: According to information discussed during her presentation “Radiology 101” at the La Crosse, Wisconsin, AAPC chapter meeting in November 2025, Ruby O’Brochta-Woodward, BSN, CPC, CPMA, CDEO, CEMC, CPCO, CPB, COSC, CSFAC, CPC-I, a coding educator for Twin Cities Orthopedics/Revo Health, says your claim was denied because any abdominal radiology procedure that has a radiological supervision and interpretation code (for example, 75625 [Aortography, abdominal, by serialography, radiological supervision and interpretation]) would also include abdominal X-rays (for example, 74018-74022) as part of the total service. In other words, code 75625 already includes the work for code 74019 (Radiologic examination, abdomen; 2 views) and cannot be billed separately on the claim. More information on this policy can be found on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website: CMS.gov. Lindsey Bush, BA, MA, CPC, Production Editor, AAPC
