Question of the Week Archives

General Question for the Week of June 18, 2018

Posted June 18, 2018June 13, 2018 Ali SmithPosted in General, Question of the Week

Question:

How does CMS define the term “separate procedure” that is used in CPT® code descriptions?

Cardiology Question for the Week of June 18, 2018

Posted June 18, 2018June 13, 2018 Ali SmithPosted in Cardiology, Question of the Week

Question:

Can we charge for two kissing balloons when one is for a lesion and one is for protection of a stent but no lesion? The internal iliac had a lesion, and the external iliac had a stent that needed protection. Would the codes be 37220 and 37222?

Pharmacy Question for the Week of June 18, 2018

Posted June 18, 2018June 13, 2018 Ali SmithPosted in Pharmacy, Question of the Week

Question:

We (hospital) are looking for billing instructions related to roster-billing for the influenza virus vaccine and the pneumococcal vaccine provided to inpatients. Can you provide any guidelines?

Radiology Question for the Week of June 18, 2018

Posted June 18, 2018June 18, 2018 Ali SmithPosted in Question of the Week, Radiology

Question:

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

Laboratory Question for the Week of June 18, 2018

Posted June 18, 2018June 13, 2018 Ali SmithPosted in Laboratory, Question of the Week

Question:

If a test kit contains a card with five different spots each testing for a different species of an infectious agent, how many units of service (UOS) can be reported for Medicare claims?

Respiratory Question for the Week of June 18, 2018

Posted June 18, 2018June 13, 2018 Ali SmithPosted in Question of the Week, Respiratory

Question:

Our facility has assigned code 94150 (vital capacity, total) to line items described as “peak ﬂow.” Is this appropriate under Medicare?

Pharmacy Question for the Week of June 11, 2018

Posted June 11, 2018June 6, 2018 Ali SmithPosted in Pharmacy, Question of the Week

Question:

As a follow-up to last week’s QA about hepatitis B vaccine payment, what is the Medicare policy for hospital outpatient departments administering for home dialysis patients?

Cardiology Question for the Week of June 11, 2018

Posted June 11, 2018June 12, 2018 Ali SmithPosted in Cardiology, Question of the Week

Question:

If a temporary pacemaker lead is inserted during a diagnostic heart cath, is it appropriate to charge for this lead placement if the patient does not leave the procedure room with it (the pacemaker lead)?

Radiology Question for the Week of June 11, 2018

Posted June 11, 2018June 6, 2018 Ali SmithPosted in Question of the Week, Radiology

Question:

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?

Laboratory Question for the Week of June 11, 2018

Posted June 11, 2018June 6, 2018 Ali SmithPosted in Laboratory, Question of the Week

Question:

The descriptors for both CPT® codes 82803 and 82805 begin with the word “gases.” Does this mean there must be two or more blood gases measured?