Radiology Coding Alert

Question: If the physician performs multiple injections for a single sentinel node in a single breast, how many units of 38792 should I report? Indiana Subscriber Answer: The answer depends on whether you're referring to multiple injections of a single substance (one line item, one unit) or injections of two separate substances (two line items, one unit each), according to National Government Services (NGS), your Medicare Part B administrator for Indiana. Two substances: The performing physician may report 38792 (Injection procedure; for identification of sentinel node) "for both the injection of radioactive tracer when performed without lymphoscintigraphy; and for the injection of vital dye (Isosulfan Blue Dye or a similar product) to visualize the sentinel node," states NGS article A47181. (You can search for the NGS article at www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/overview.asp.) How: If a single physician performs and reports both the tracer injection and the dye injection, you should bill two [...]