Radiology Coding Alert

Once-in-a-lifetime services are officially on 2 'approved issues' lists. If you've been sweating it out, waiting for the recovery audit contractors (RACs) to announce where they'll be focusing their audit efforts, you may or may not be relieved to know two RAC contractors have posted the areas they'll have their eye on. And there's one in particular you need to know. Pay Attention to This Possible Problem Spot Both lists include once-in-a-lifetime procedures, sonamed because you should report them just once in a beneficiary's lifetime. This could bring G0389 (Ultrasound B-scan and/or real time with image documentation; for abdominal aortic aneurysm [AAA] screening) claims under scrutiny because the code represents a onetime AAA screening for Medicare patients referred following an initial preventive physical examination. You can keep future claims clean by following the rules available at www.cms.hhs.gov/transmittals/downloads/R1113CP.pdf. For example, for Medicare to cover the code, the patient must meet [...]