Radiology Question for the Week of February 26, 2018

Question:

Can you provide me with coding information for liver ultrasound with Lumason contrast?

Answer:

You would report Q9950 for the Lumason contrast material itself, which is billed per ml and which is sold as 5 ml single-use vials. If you have to discard some of the contrast, Medicare allows you to bill the discarded amount.

For instance, if you give 2 ml and discard 3 ml you would bill Q9950 x 2 for the amount given and Q9950-JW x 3 for the amount discarded. Since Lumason still has pass-through status, you do want to remember to bill the discarded amount to Medicare.

For the ultrasound, you would bill the following code to Medicare:

This code also would be used if you do the vesicoureteral ultrasound with contrast. Other payers may allow 76705 and/or 76775 for liver and kidney/ureter ultrasounds with contrast.  Some payers other than Medicare may allow 96374 for the administration of contrast.  You will need to check the individual payer’s policy.

LUMASON^® (sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type A microspheres) for injectable suspension, for intravenous use or intravesical use

INDICATIONS AND USAGE¹

LUMASON is an ultrasound contrast agent indicated for use:
• in echocardiography to opacify the left ventricular chamber and to improve the delineation of the left ventricular endocardial border in adult patients with suboptimal echocardiograms
• in ultrasonography of the liver for characterization of focal liver lesions in adult and pediatric patients
• in ultrasonography of the urinary tract for the evaluation of suspected or known vesicoureteral reflux in pediatric patients

CONTRAINDICATIONS¹
LUMASON is contraindicated in patients with:
• history of hypersensitivity reactions to sulfur hexafluoride lipid microsphere components or to any of the inactive ingredients in LUMASON

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION¹

The risk for serious cardiopulmonary reactions may be increased among patients with unstable cardiopulmonary conditions (acute myocardial infarction, acute coronary artery syndromes, worsening or unstable congestive heart failure, or serious ventricular arrhythmias) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].¹

Please see full Prescribing Information for LUMASON ultrasound contrast agent including boxed WARNING at http://www.braccoimaging.com/us-en/products-and-solutions/contrast-enhanced-ultrasound/lumason/prescribing-information.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

LUMASON is manufactured for Bracco Diagnostics Inc., Monroe Township, NJ 08831 by Bracco Suisse S.A., Plan-les-Ouates Geneve, Switzerland (LUMASON lyophilized powder vial-25 mg lipid-type A/60.7 sulfur hexafluoride gas); Vetter Pharma-Fertigung GmbH & Co. KG, 88212 Ravensburg, Germany (Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection, USP); B. Braun Melsungen AG, 34212 Melsungen, Germany (Mini-Spike).LUMASON is a registered trademark of Bracco Diagnostics Inc.

1. LUMASON (sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type A microspheres) for injectable suspension, for intravenous use or intravesical use full Prescribing Information. Monroe Twp., NJ: Bracco Diagnostics Inc.; December 2016.

Bracco Diagnostics Inc.
259 Prospect Plains Road, Building H
Monroe Township, NJ 08831 USA
Phone: 609-514-2200
Toll Free: 1-877-272-2269 (U.S. only)
Fax: 609-514-2446

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