Do Pelvic X-rays Receive a Separate Code When Captured With Hip X-rays?
Question: I have a radiology report where the physician documented, “An AP pelvis and lateral of the right hip was ordered, obtained, and interpreted by myself. Their right total hip arthroplasty hardware is in good position. The patient has left hip dysplasia with significant post dysplastic arthrosis.” The provider coded it with 72170 and 73501 but those two codes cannot be reported together, so we are trying to figure out a way to code this properly since there is no code for a unilateral hip X-ray. How should we report the procedures? Alabama Subscriber Answer: You are correct that 72170 (Radiologic examination, pelvis; 1 or 2 views) and 73501 (Radiologic examination, hip, unilateral, with pelvis when performed; 1 view) can’t be coded together. Code 73501 covers the unilateral hip X-ray and a pelvic X-ray when the provider captures views of both body areas, which means reporting 72170 additionally would be double billing for the pelvis X-rays. According to CPT® Assistant, Volume 26, Issue 8, “[I]ndividual views of the pelvis should only be reported, if performed as a stand-alone procedure.” Instead, use 73502 (Radiologic examination, hip, unilateral, with pelvis when performed; 2-3 views) to report both the right hip lateral view and anteroposterior (AP) view of the pelvis. This code covers two to three views and includes both body areas that were imaged. Mike Shaughnessy, BA, CPC, Production Editor, AAPC
