Advanced Search

Radiology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

US Guidance Requires 'Recorded' Images

Published on Mon Dec 03, 2012

Question: Will you confirm whether printed US images must be present in the medical record to meet all payers' guidelines/policies when submitting US guidance claims? Hawaii Subscriber Answer: Individual payers may create their own policies for the claims submitted to them, but the CPT® wording is that "Ultrasound guidance procedures also require permanently recorded images of the site to be localized, as well as a documented description of the localization process, either separately or within the report of the procedure for which the guidance is utilized." The key phrase is that the images must be "permanently recorded." A printed image in the medical record would meet this requirement, but retrievable images in the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) would meet the requirement, as well.
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Radiology Coding Alert

View All