Cardiology Question for the Week of October 14, 2019

Question:

Do we code Q9950 when the doctor performs an echocardiogram at the hospital, or will the hospital code that?

Answer:

Q9950 is the code for the Lumason contrast material itself. Only the facility billing for the technical component may report that. Your doctor would report the appropriate echocardiogram code such as 93306 with modifier 26 for interpretation of the exam at the hospital. If you perform a contrast echo in your office, then you would report Q9950 along with the echo code. However, when done at a hospital, the hospital bills for the contrast material.