PET Myocardial Imaging Studies (July 2020)

July 2020 pages 5-6 PET Myocardial Imaging Studies Several changes occurred in the Radiology/Cardiovascular System subsection of the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) 2020 code set to reflect new technology for myocardial imaging positron emission tomography (PET) and PET/computed tomography (CT) studies. CPT codes for myocardial PET studies (78459, 78491, 78492) were revised, and new codes (78429-78434) were established to describe bundled PET and CT performed concurrently for both attenuation correction and anatomic localization. In addition, the guidelines were revised and parenthetical notes were added to guide users in the appropriate reporting of these services. This article provides an...

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Note:  The following article synopsis was NOT provided by the AMA. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.

Article Overview

This article explains July 2020 changes affecting cardiac PET myocardial imaging in CPT, with emphasis on updated descriptors, newly added PET/CT-based reporting options, revised guidelines, and related instructional notes. It is relevant to coders, auditors, and reimbursement professionals working with nuclear medicine and cardiovascular imaging services. The article also discusses how the update fits with related stress testing, CT transmission imaging, and myocardial blood flow quantitation guidance.

Why This Topic Matters

The update changes how several cardiac PET imaging services are described and organized in CPT, which affects accurate claim reporting and code selection workflows. It also ties the PET myocardial imaging guidance to related CT and stress-testing instructions, making it important for practices that bill these services.

Article Sections

  1. PET Myocardial Imaging Studies

    Introduces the July 2020 update to myocardial PET imaging coding within the radiology and cardiovascular system area. Summarizes the general scope of the code and guideline revisions covered in the article.

  2. Cardiovascular System

    Lists the cardiac PET myocardial imaging codes addressed in the update and shows how they are organized within the cardiovascular system section. Also includes related instructional notes and references to connected imaging services.

  3. Revised Guidelines

    Describes the revised cardiovascular system guidance for PET myocardial imaging reporting and its relationship to stress testing and PET/CT instrumentation. Covers the broader reporting framework and associated instructional notes.

  4. Reporting PET Myocardial Imaging Studies

    Explains the overall categories of PET myocardial imaging services discussed in the update and how the new and revised CPT structure addresses them. Also covers the add-on blood flow quantitation guidance and related cross-references.

What You Will Learn

  • How the July 2020 CPT update affects myocardial PET imaging reporting
  • Which general categories of cardiac PET imaging services are addressed
  • How the article organizes revised guidance for PET/CT-based myocardial imaging
  • What related guidance is provided for stress testing and add-on myocardial blood flow analysis

Who Should Read This

  • Medical coders
  • Coding auditors
  • Revenue cycle staff
  • Cardiology practices
  • Nuclear medicine professionals

Codes Discussed

Code Ranges Discussed

Modifiers Discussed


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