Compliance Question of the Week – Radiology

Which code should be billed for a L5 selective nerve root block? Our radiologist doesn’t think it should be billed as a 64483 because it is not a transforaminal injection, but rather 64493.

There is no CPT® code for MRA (magnetic resonance angiography) bilateral extremity run-off, and a colleague says that we should only bill a MRA of the abdomen and MRA of both extremities. A separate code for the pelvis should not be assigned for MRA pelvis because this overlaps the abdomen and extremities. Is this correct?

When a hysterosalpingogram is performed, can 76830 and 76831 be billed if documented, or is the 76830 inclusive?

Our radiology department is removing a G-tube, but there is no CPT® code for this procedure. Is it appropriate for us to charge 99211 (office/outpatient visit established) when performed by a radiologist or technologist?

We are starting to do PET/CT for cardiac sarcoid and have some questions on what CPT® code(s) we should be using for this study. We are also thinking of doing a scan to include the whole torso to look for sarcoid evidence elsewhere in the patient. If we do that can we use the following code?

78815 Positron emission tomography (PET) with concurrently acquired computed tomography (CT) for attenuation correction and anatomical localization imaging; skull base to mid-thigh

Instead of billing CPT® codes 71100 and 71046 together with a -59 modifier on the chest X-ray, should we bill 71101 instead?

Should we code and bill for shoulder arthrography prior to the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure?

Is there a modifier that can be assigned for hospital billing in the following example? An incision was made, and anesthesia was administered for an ultrasound-guided liver biopsy. Then, the physician determined the procedure could not be performed so it was discontinued.

Is a physician’s prescription required for Medicare to cover a screening mammography?

What is the correct CPT® code for an ultrasound of an inguinal mass that is found to be an inguinal hernia?

What are the codes for renal stone protocol (CT scan for kidney stones)?

A physician ordered a neck computed tomography (CT) for indication of a palpable neck mass. A few CT images were obtained without contrast with a lead BB (opaque marker) to mark the mass, followed by a complete neck CT with contrast. Can we submit a claim for a CT of the neck without and with contrast?