Bone density measurement for a patient with long-established osteoporosis

[lintvedta]

Is it ever appropriate to code a diagnostic dexa scan for a patient with an established diagnosis (and on treatment with a bisphosphonate or other med) of osteopenia or osteoporosis as a screening. I always thought not, as long as there hasn't been a long gap in screening so a new baseline needs to be established. Almost every insurance company wants to deny diagnostics because screening codes weren't used. In my view these ARE NOT screenings.