Radiology Coding Alert

Question: For a four-view femur report, should I report 73550 and 73550-76?New York SubscriberAnswer: No. Even though 73550 (Radiologic examination, femur, two views) states "two views" in the descriptor, you should report 73550 only once for a four-view exam.You should append modifier 76 (Repeat procedure or service by same physician) only when the same physician performs exactly the same procedure on the same day.Example: The patient has a four-view femur exam in the morning. Later in the day, the physician orders another medically necessary four-view femur exam for the patient. The same radiologist reads both exams. In this case, you would report 73550 and 73550-76. You may also need to append 26 (Professional component) to each code if you're only reporting the professional service.
-- The answers for You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were reviewed by Jackie Miller, RHIA, CPC, senior consultant with Coding Strategies Inc. in Powder Springs, Ga.