thyoid ultrasound

What code do I use for an ultrasound of the throid?

Thyroid code

We do these in our office and use code 76536. They are sent to a radiologist to be read but we bill the complete test and pay the radiologist a fee for reading.

Interpretations

I would review with attorney to make sure you are compliant. Stark comes into play sometimes and it is best to be safe than sorry. On the surface, you are probably OK but review MMA. The Medicare Moderation Act of 2003 (MMA) liberalized the reassignment rules to remove the "on the premises" requirement for reassigned claims. As a result, independent contractor physicians were permitted to reassign their rights to receive Medicare Part B payments to not only a clinic or physician group but also an independent diagnostic testing facility (IDTF) or any other billing entity and to do so regardless of where they actually furnished the services. But, if the office physician has a financial relationship with radiology group, although the MMA relaxed the Medicare reassignment rules, the Stark anti-self-referral law remained in play. Stark prohibits a physician from referring a Medicare patient for the provision of "designated health services," including either the technical or professional component of diagnostic radiology services or both, to an entity in which the physician has a financial interest.