Radiology Coding Alert

Decide between modifiers 50 and 59 for opposite side services.CPT® 2013 will introduce eight new codes for cervicocerebral angiography. Master these highlights from the guidelines to have clean claims from day one.To learn more about the codes, see "36221 to +36228 Shake Up Carotid and Vertebral Angiography in the New Year" on cover page.1. What If the Imaging is Bilateral?Coding for services on both sides of the neck/head will depend on whether the same territory or different territories are imaged on both sides.Modifier 50: If the physician performs the same procedure on both sides, then you should append modifier 50 (Bilateral procedure) to the appropriate code, CPT® guidelines instruct. For instance, if the physician positions the catheter in the right vertebral artery and images the right vertebral circulation, and then maneuvers the catheter over to the left vertebral artery and performs imaging there, you should append modifier 50 to 36226.Modifier [...]