But don’t assume the new codes will yield improved fees.
Virtual colonoscopy coverage may be a mixed bag, but the AMA showed some confidence in the service by moving its codes from temporary Category III status to full-fledged Category I in 2010.
The switch from Category III to Category I does offer some hope of better reimbursement in the future, says Rhonda Townley, CPC, with University Radiology in Knoxville, Tenn. But don’t make assumptions.
For example, you should continue to check and follow coverage policies for Medicare beneficiaries, she warns. Medicare’s current policy is noncoverage, as announced in its “Decision Memo for Screening Computed Tomography Colonography (CTC) for Colorectal Cancer” (CAG-00396N).
Watch Contrast Use for Diagnostic Test
The details: CPT 2010 deletes 0066T (Computed tomographic [CT] colonography [i.e., virtual colonoscopy]; screening) and 0067T (… diagnostic). But in their place, you’ll have the following 3 codes:
• 74261 — Computed tomographic (CT) colonography, diagnostic, including image postprocessing; without contrast material
• 74262 — … with contrast material(s) including noncontrast images, if performed
• 74263 — Computed tomographic (CT) colonography, screening, including image postprocessing.
Diagnostic do: In 2009, you used a single code — 0067T — for diagnostic tests. But in 2010 you’ll choose between two codes for diagnostic testing: 74261 (without contrast) and 74262 (with contrast, including any noncontrast imaging).
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