Wiki Preliminary Reading of X-ray included in the value of an E/M?

[rclark11]

If an Occupational Medicine provider bills an E/M code along with an X-ray and the documentation states that he performed the preliminary reading of the X-ray and sent it to a radiologist for a final interpretation, can he bill and be paid for the total component of the x-ray? Or is the preliminary reading included in the value of the E/M and the provider should be paid for the technical component of the x-ray only, as they took the x-ray in the office?

 

[SharonCollachi]

In order to be paid for reading an xray, a report must be generated. If he's just looking at it and not doing a full interpretation and full report, it's not separately billable.