Radiology Coding Alert

As of July 1, HCFA has revised or replaced G codes used to describe PET scanning for diagnosis, initial staging and restaging of various cancers. And, it has introduced new codes representing expanded coverage in other areas.   New Lung Cancer Codes   G0210 (new) -- PET imaging, whole body; diagnosis; lung cancer, non-small cell
G0211 (replaces G0126) -- ... initial staging; lung cancer, non-small cell
G0212 (new) -- ... restaging; lung cancer, non-small cell New Colorectal Cancer Codes   G0213 (new) -- PET imaging, whole body; diagnosis; colorectal cancer
G0214 (new) -- ... initial staging; colorectal cancer
G0215 (new) -- ... restaging; colorectal cancer   New Melanoma Codes   G0216 (new) -- PET imaging, whole body; diagnosis; melanoma
G0217 (new) -- ... initial staging; melanoma
G0218 (replaces G0165) -- ... restaging; melanoma
G0219 (new) -- ... melanoma for non-covered indications (e.g., not covered for evaluating regional nodes)   New Lymphoma Codes   G0220 (new) -- PET imaging, whole body; diagnosis; lymphoma
G0221 (replaces G0164) -- ... initial staging; lymphoma
G0222 (replaces G0164) -- ... restaging; lymphoma New Head and Neck Codes   G0223 (new) -- PET imaging, whole body or regional; diagnosis; head and neck cancer; excluding thyroid and CNS cancers
G0224 (new) -- ... initial staging; head and neck cancer, excluding thyroid and CNS cancers
G0225 (new) -- ... restaging; head and neck cancer, excluding thyroid and CNS cancers   New Esophageal Codes   G0226 (new) -- PET imaging, whole body; diagnosis; esophageal cancer   G0227 (new) -- ... initial staging; esophageal cancer
G0228 (new) -- ... restaging; esophageal cancer   Other New Codes   G0229 (new) -- PET imaging; metabolic brain imaging for pre-surgical evaluation of refractory seizures
G0230 (new) -- ... metabolic assessment for myocardial viability following inconclusive SPECT study.