Radiology Coding Alert

Question: Radiologists in our practice often go to another facility to read their x-rays. Which place of service should we report on our claim forms?

California Subscriber  
Answer: Report the place of service where the x-ray was performed. For instance, if your radiologists read the x-rays taken at a nearby nursing home (e.g., 73520, radiologic examination, hips, bilateral, minimum of two views of each hip, including anteroposterior view of pelvis), your Medicare claim forms should indicate the nursing home as the place of service. Similarly, if the radiologist goes to a surgical center to perform a breast biopsy (e.g., 19103, biopsy of breast; percutaneous, automated vacuum assisted or rotating biopsy device, using imaging guidance, with 76095, stereotactic localization guidance for breast biopsy or needle placement [e.g., for wire localization or for injection], each lesion, radiological supervision and interpretation), the surgical center would be identified as the place of service.
 
-- "You Be the Coder" and "Reader Questions" were reviewed by Donna Richmond, CPC, radiology coding specialist with Acadiana Computer Systems Inc., a medical billing management company based in Lafayette, La., that serves more than 200 radiologists, pathologists and anesthesiologists.