Introduction
There are four subsections of the Radiology section. The four subsections are diagnostic radiology, diagnostic ultrasound, radiation oncology and nuclear medicine. Each subsection is further subdivided into anatomic categories. The number of radiologic views (studies taken from different angles) described in the report determines the code selection for some diagnostic procedures.
The term “complete” is a reference to the number of views required for a full study of a designated body part. When the word ”complete” is found in the code description, one code is reported to completely describe the procedure performed. Another fact to consider in radiology coding is determination of which physician is responsible for the professional and technical components of an exam.
Objectives
Upon completion of this module, the student will be able to:
- Identify the subsections of the radiology section.
- Apply modifiers associated with radiological procedures (26, TC)
- State the meaning of the phrase “ supervision and interpretation” as it applies to radiological procedures
- Given a procedure/service successfully assign CPT code(s) for radiology services
Readings & Resources
Required textbook reading: Kuehn, Lynn. Procedural Coding and Reimbursement for Physician Services: Applying Current Procedural Terminology and HCPCS. AHIMA Press. 2012 edition.
Chapter 5.