Radiology Coding Alert

Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.
Question: Should spinal nerve block codes be charged for each level injected? And what if the radiologist injects both the left and right sides at a particular level? Minnesota Subscriber       Answer: Coding regulations allow nerve block injection codes to be billed once per level. 64470, for instance, is defined as Injection, anesthetic agent and/or steroid, paravertebral facet joint or facet joint nerve; cervical or thoracic, single level. CPT Codes then provides add-on code +64472 cervical or thoracic, each additional level (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure). Likewise, the codes may be charged for both the right and left sides at each level. You should report the same procedure code on two lines of the claim form, with modifier -50 (Bilateral procedure) appended to the second appearance (e.g., 64470 and 64470-50) or enter the procedure code on only one line with the -50 modifier. Alternatively, some payers prefer you to report the code twice, once with the LT designation and once with the RT designation.