Start the documentation education now to ease possible 72114 audits.
Where view requirements are concerned, CPT® giveth, and CPT® taketh away for two spine X-ray 2012 CPT codes.
Ensure your medical coding practice applies these key code updates, effective for services on or after January 1.
2012 CPT Codes: Plan Ahead for Tougher 72114 Requirements
To report 72114 for a lumbosacral spine X-ray carried out in 2012, you must fulfil a new requirement for a "minimum of 6 views":
Where view requirements are concerned, CPT® giveth, and CPT® taketh away for two spine X-ray 2012 CPT codes.
Ensure your medical coding practice applies these key code updates, effective for services on or after January 1.
2012 CPT Codes: Plan Ahead for Tougher 72114 Requirements
To report 72114 for a lumbosacral spine X-ray carried out in 2012, you must fulfil a new requirement for a "minimum of 6 views":
The above code from the 2012 CPT codes will be applicable to six or more views however the 2011 definition of 72114 did not include any definite number of views.
Potential problem: Some physicians now document complete including bending views, instead of stating the number of views.
Solution: This change is going to necessitate physician education to make certain coders are given adequate information to support this code. Stating the exact number of views has always been a documentation best practice, however this 2012 CPT update makes documenting those views an absolute must.
Alert your physicians and techs to the new prerequisite, and ask for documentation of the number of views, as well as the type of views, so you can support use of 72114.
Example: The radiologist's note documents performance and interpretation of the following listed views:
Potential problem: Some physicians now document complete including bending views, instead of stating the number of views.
Solution: This change is going to necessitate physician education to make certain coders are given adequate information to support this code. Stating the exact number of views has always been a documentation best practice, however this 2012 CPT update makes documenting those views an absolute must.
Alert your physicians and techs to the new prerequisite, and ask for documentation of the number of views, as well as the type of views, so you can support use of 72114.
Example: The radiologist's note documents performance and interpretation of the following listed views:
As the documentation meets the minimum of six views and comprises of bending views, you should choose 72114. (Reminder: Because the code covers a "minimum of 6 views, you should not report any views beyond the first six with a separate code. A single unit of 72114 will cover all of the lumbosacral spine X-ray views.)
2102 CPT Update: 2 Views Will Now Suffice for 72120
In case you're unhappy about the new minimum view requirement for 72114, you may be cheered by the change to 72120. CPT 2012 actually decreases the required number of views for 72120 from "minimum of 4" to "2 or 3":
2102 CPT Update: 2 Views Will Now Suffice for 72120
In case you're unhappy about the new minimum view requirement for 72114, you may be cheered by the change to 72120. CPT 2012 actually decreases the required number of views for 72120 from "minimum of 4" to "2 or 3":
This change is in line with existing practice as physicians normally don't need four views to capture what they need to see. Every time bending views are ordered, they are almost assured to require/order at least two views. As far as 2012 CPT codes are concerned, meeting the necessities of 72120 will be much easier.
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