Overreading a Diagnostic Imaging Study

Question:

I sent a patient out to the hospital for a CTA and the patient brought in the actual images and the radiologist’s report for me to review. Can I charge 76140 (Consultation on X-ray examination made elsewhere, written report) when I personally interpret those images and write my own report?

Answer:

No. This code is used by a radiologist who does an overread of an imaging study and provides a written report after reviewing an x-ray exam that was performed elsewhere. Starting in 2021, you receive credit for ordering the CTA at the time of the visit where it was ordered. You do not receive additional E/M credit for reviewing the findings with the patient at a later visit. If however, you did not separately bill for the global or professional component for the reading, you can receive credit for an independent interpretation of the films. This needs to be clearly documented that the images were personally viewed by the provider and the findings of the provider.