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Radiology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Ultrasound and Fluoroscopy

Published on Mon Oct 01, 2001

Question: If ultrasound guidance is used to cannulate the vein, and fluoroscopy is used to insert the PICC line, can our practice bill for both modalities? 

New Mexico Subscriber  
Answer: Various radiology coding experts provide differing answers to this question. Some say that practices may bill for only one guidance modality per procedure and, in this case, would report the ultrasound code (76942, ultrasonic guidance for needle placement [e.g., biopsy, aspiration, injection, localization device], imaging supervision and interpretation). Others recommend reporting both 76942 and 76000 (fluoroscopy, physician time more than one hour, assisting a non-radiologic physician [e.g., nephrostolithotomy, ERCP, bronchoscopy, transbronchial biopsy]), but practices should be prepared to receive payment only for one.  
-- Reader Questions and You Be the Coder answered by Donna Richmond, RCC, 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.
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