Wiki MRI Brain/MRI IAC

[miss407]

The coders in our office are having a discussion on how to bill MRI Brain and IAC with and w/o contrast. Some are stating 70553 and 70553 -76 and others think just 70553?

 

[MLS2]

I would think that 70553 would cover both

 

[jonanner]

70553 is the only code needed, when doing IAC's as well as the brain.

 

[ciphermed]

Clinical examples in radiology addressed this coding scenario in the Spring 2006 issue. It pretty much indicates that MRI of the Brain with an emphasis on IAC's is appropriately reported w / 70553 x 1 (w/w/o contrast).

It further indicates that on rare instances in which a complete MRI of the brain and a separate complete MRI of the IAC's are both medically necessary, ordered, and performed...it would be appropriate to report 2 units of 70553; one with the modifier -59 attached.
Anthony

 

[JP2323]

Wouldn't it be ok to code 70553 for the MRI of the brain and a 70543 for the MRI of the IAC's?

 

[tmlbwells]

According to the 2010 CSI Navigator, MRI of the IACs is coded with 70553.

Mary