Wiki Partial Mastectomy Question

[mmelcam]

Partial mastectomy with ultrasound guidence. This was performed at the hospital. The physician makes a note in his operative report that the ultrasound was used. Can I code for the ultrasound guidence? I code the physician side not facility side.

 

[cmartin]

I think you could use 76998 w/ the 26 modifier

 

[mmelcam]

Do you have to do a separate radiology report in order to bill this or is just mentioning the ultrasound in the body of the operative report enough documentation?

 

[Lujanwj]

Any time you use -26 you should have a separate report with indications and findings. .

 

[mmelcam]

Thats what I thought. So if my physician only dictated an operative report and not a radiology report, I can only bill for the mastectomy even if an ultrasound was used....correct??