Compliance Question of the Week – Radiology

Can a radiologist bill for the reading of a post breast biopsy/clip/wire-placement mammogram? It is usually a two-view mammogram that indicates the clip/wire placement. Prior to 2016, the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits didn’t allow, but I believe this policy was revised. If the radiologist can bill for the reading of the post breast biopsy/clip/wire placement mammogram, would it be a unilateral, diagnostic mammogram?

Can we use the obstetric (OB) ultrasound (US) codes when the US identifies an ectopic pregnancy or no pregnancy?

If a patient has just an abdominal aorta ultrasound, do we use code 76770 or 76775?

What is the key distinction between a standard CT and a CTA?

Does the physician have to be in the room for the hospital to bill a barium swallow (74230)?

What is the appropriate CPT® code for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) internal auditory canals (IACs)?

What is the ICD-10-CM code for lymphoma of the breast?

Is there a good reference regarding what designates deep versus superficial bone biopsy? The code descriptions give some examples but other bones I’m not sure about.

How do you code for diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion-weight¬ed imaging (DWI) when they are performed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain? Are there specific codes to describe this imaging?

Should the CPT® codes be used to bill for mammograms or should the G codes be used?

What is the appropriate CPT® code when a whole-body PET with CT attenuation and then a comprehensive CT with oral and IV contrast are performed? Two separate studies were done at one visit.

Would it be correct to charge 76882 twice for ultrasound bilateral extremity non-vascular hip, knee, and ankle for joint effusion? I have one that was charged X6.