Dexa scan billing

The doctor I work for is certain that I am not billing DEXA scans correctly because, he says, he should be getting paid over $100 for the scan. The only code I know to use is 77080 and Medicare reimburses $45.81 for that. Some commercial insurances reimburse more.

I know there are 77081 and 77082, which are not what we are doing, and they pay even less.

Am I billing these correctly or not.

Please reply, and thank you for your comments.

re: DEXA SCAN BILLING

You are correct as per the Coders Desk Reference book that i refer to, (I am a CPC) and work for an OB-GYN provider and that is the CPT® code that we use when we perform them. 77080 is for the DEXA of the hips, pelvis, or spine(axial skeleton. the other CPT® codes you referre to are for the the scan of the peripheral bones such as wrist, heel and 77082 for one or more vertebral site to access a fracture. Good Luck:)

re: DEXA SCAN BILLING

We doctors always think we should be getting paid more than we are...

re: DEXA SCAN BILLING

of course Sir, and your all well worth it, but unfortunately the insurance company's dictate what you should be paid. Us coders just try to keep you in complicance with the AMA guidelines so you don't get an audits done on you. The best of luck to you:)