Click here to read our 2024 code changes update article.
With the new year comes the annual revision of Current Procedural Terminology[i] (CPT)® coding that practices have to be aware of. For diagnostic radiology, the changes for 2020 are relatively few and they are concentrated in the areas of abdominal and gastrointestinal plain films, nuclear medicine procedures for tumor localization, and myocardial PET imaging. The changes to interventional radiology coding are likewise quite limited and involve pericardial and spinal puncture procedures.
Diagnostic Radiology
Abdominal and Gastrointestinal Imaging
These exams now include all scout films and delayed images in the basic procedure code, and distinction is made between single and double contrast studies.
- Complete Acute Abdomen Series (74022) - The code now specifies that two or more views of the abdomen must be included, for example supine, erect, and/or decubitus.
- Pharynx and/or Cervical Esophagus (74210) - The code now specifies that this is a barium contrast exam that includes scout neck radiograph(s) and delayed image(s).
- Esophagus - The codes now include scout chest radiograph(s) and delayed image(s).
- Use 74220 (revised) for a single contrast exam.
- Use 74221 (new) for a double contrast exam (e.g., high density barium and an effervescent agent).
- Swallowing Function (74230) - The code now specifies that this is a barium contrast exam that includes scout neck radiograph(s) and delayed image(s).
- Upper Gastrointestinal Tract - The codes now include scout abdominal radiographs and delayed images.
- Use 74240 (revised) for a single contrast exam.
- Use 74246 (revised) for a double contrast exam (e.g., high density barium and an effervescent agent) including glucagon when administered.
- Add 74248 (new) to either of these codes to report small intestine follow-through studies.
- The following have been deleted:
- 74241, replaced by 74240
- 74245, replaced by 74240 + 74248
- 74247, replaced by 74246
- 74249, replaced by 74246 + 74248
- Small Intestine - The codes now include multiple serial images and scout abdominal radiograph(s) and delayed image(s). Existing codes have been revised:
- Use 74250 for single contrast exam.
- Use 74251 for a double contrast exam (e.g., high density barium and air via enteroclysis tube).
- For Duodenogram, 74260 has been deleted and replaced by 74251.
- Colon - The codes now include scout abdominal radiographs and delayed images. Existing codes have been revised:
- Use 74270 for a single contrast exam.
- Use 74280 for a double contrast exam (e.g., high density barium and air) including glucagon when administered.
Nuclear Medicine
New codes were added to report tumor localization using SPECT and SPECT/CT.
| CPT Code | Description |
|
78830 New |
SPECT with concurrent CT for anatomical review, localization and determination/detection of pathology; Single area (e.g., head, neck, chest, pelvis) |
|
78831 New |
SPECT only for anatomical review, localization and determination/detection of pathology; Minimum 2 areas (e.g., pelvis and knees, abdomen and pelvis) Single day imaging, or Single area imaging over 2 or more days |
|
78832 New |
SPECT with concurrent CT for anatomical review, localization and determination/detection of pathology; Minimum 2 areas (e.g., pelvis and knees, abdomen and pelvis) Single day imaging, or Single area imaging over 2 or more days |
|
78835 New Add-on |
Radiopharmaceutical quantification measurement(s) Single area Use with 78830 or 78832 Report multiple units for more than 1 area or more than one day of imaging |
These scans were previously reported using 78805, 78806 and 78807.
The following codes have all been deleted and will now be reported using the tumor localization code 78803 (SPECT, single area, single day imaging):
- 78205 and 78206 Liver Imaging (SPECT)
- 78320 Bone and Joint Imaging (SPECT)
- 78607 Brain Imaging (SPECT)
- 78647 Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Imaging (cisternography) (SPECT)
- 78710 Kidney Imaging (SPECT)
The reporting of Myocardial PET imaging has been enhanced with the addition of 6 new codes. Here is a complete rundown of the relevant code sequences:
New and Revised Myocardial PET Coding
| CPT Code | Description |
|
78459 Revised |
Metabolic evaluation study (including ventricular wall motion and/or ejection fractions, when performed) Single study |
|
78429 New |
With concurrent CT imaging |
|
78491 Revised |
Perfusion study (including ventricular wall motion and/or ejection fractions, when performed) Single study, at rest or stress (either exercise or pharmacologic) |
|
78430 New |
Single study, at rest or stress (either exercise or pharmacologic) With concurrent CT imaging |
|
78492 Revised |
Multiple studies at rest and stress (either exercise or pharmacologic) |
|
78431 New |
Multiple studies at rest and stress (either exercise or pharmacologic) With concurrent CT imaging |
|
78432 New |
Combined perfusion with metabolic evaluation study (including ventricular wall motion and/or ejection fractions, when performed) Dual radiotracer (e.g., myocardial viability) |
|
78433 New |
With concurrent CT imaging |
|
78434 New Add-on |
Absolute quantitation of myocardial blood flow (AQMBF) Rest and pharmacologic stress Use with 78431 or 78492 |
Other Diagnostic Radiology
There are two new codes for Arterial Inflow and Venous Outflow for Pre-operative Vessel Assessment prior to the creation of hemodialysis access using duplex Doppler ultrasound. These codes replace the HCPCS[i] code G0365.
- 93985 Complete bilateral study
- 93986 Complete unilateral study
Category III HCPCS codes in the range of 0554T – 0557T have been created for Bone Strength and Fracture Risk Assessment using CT, however these are not yet covered services for Medicare reimbursement.
Interventional Radiology
The reporting of pericardiocentesis and pericardial drainage has been enhanced by the addition of 4 new codes that expand upon 3 deleted codes. The new codes include all imaging guidance, when performed.
| CPT Code | Description |
|
33016 New |
Pericardiocentesis, including imaging guidance Replaces 33010 and 33011 |
|
33017 New |
Pericardial drainage with insertion of indwelling catheter, percutaneous, Including fluoroscopy and/or ultrasound guidance Age 6 and older without congenital cardiac anomaly |
|
33018 New |
Including fluoroscopy and/or ultrasound guidance Up to 5 years of age or any age with congenital cardiac anomaly |
|
33019 New |
Including CT guidance |
Tube Pericardiostomy is now reported using 33017, 33018 or 33019 rather than the deleted code 33015.
Lumbar puncture procedure reporting has been expanded by the addition of two new codes that incorporate fluoroscopic or CT imaging guidance.
| CPT Code | Description |
|
62270 Revised |
Spinal puncture, lumbar, diagnostic |
|
62328 New |
With fluoroscopic or CT guidance |
|
62272 Revised |
Spinal puncture, therapeutic, for drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (by needle or catheter) |
|
62329 New |
With fluoroscopic or CT guidance |
If MRI guidance is used, then 77021 may be added to 62270 and 62272. If ultrasound guidance is used, then 76942 may be added.
Conclusion
As compared with other years, coding changes for 2020 are relatively few. Although Medicare has reported that the overall effect of revisions to the 2020 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule on radiology practices will be minimal, we will separately analyze the financial impact of these and other valuation changes in an upcoming article. Each practice has to evaluate any fee schedule changes in light of its mix of modalities and procedure volume. Be sure to subscribe to this blog as we give you the information you need to understand and analyze the ongoing changes in radiology reimbursement.
[i] Current Procedural Terminology is a copyrighted code set developed and maintained by the American Medical Association, and CPT is a registered trademark.
[i] HCPCS (Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System) Level II codes and descriptors are approved and maintained jointly by the alpha-numeric editorial panel (consisting of CMS, America's Health Insurance Plans, and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association).
Erin Stephens, CPC, CIRCC is the Sr. Client Manager, Education at Healthcare Administrative Partners.
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