Radiology Coding Alert

Be sure to give the how and the why when mod 22 lands on your claim. When every penny counts, appending modifier 22 for increased reimbursement can be tempting. But before you submit claims with this red-flag modifier, be sure you apply the lessons from this Q&A. Check Global Before Appending 22 Question: Our practice performed a complete transabdominal pelvic ultrasound, and the technician found a suspicious uterine mass. The radiologist couldn't visualize the mass clearly because of its location, so we called the referring physician and got an order for a transvaginal approach, performed the same day. Should we append modifier 22 (Increased procedural services) to the transabdominal code to reflect the extra time and work required? Answer: Before you use modifier 22, you should always look to see if there's another CPT code that more accurately reflects the physician's work, says Angela Jordan, CPC, manager of coding and [...]