AMA CPT® Assistant - 2019 Issue 8 (August)
Reporting MRE and Ultrasound Elastography Procedures (August 2019)
August 2019 pages 3-4 Reporting MRE and Ultrasound Elastography Procedures The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) 2019 code set includes a new code (76391) that describes magnetic resonance (eg, vibration) elastography (MRE), and three new codes that describe ultrasound elastography (USE) for parenchyma (eg, organ) (76981), first target lesion (76982), and for each additional target lesion (76983). Because diseased tissue often has different viscoelastic properties than normal tissue, elastography assists with clinical evaluation of potential disease (eg, fibrosis, malignancy). This article provides guidance for the appropriate reporting of these procedures. Other Procedures 76391Magnetic resonance (eg, vibration) elastography Magnetic Resonance...
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Article Overview
This CPT Assistant article covers the 2019 introduction and reporting context for magnetic resonance elastography and ultrasound elastography procedures. It is intended for coding professionals, radiology practices, and compliance teams that need to understand the scope of the new CPT codes, the settings in which they are used, and the procedural scenarios discussed by the AMA. The article also includes practical clinical examples and descriptions of procedure work associated with these services.
Why This Topic Matters
Elastography procedures were newly addressed in CPT 2019, so accurate awareness of the code family and the article’s scope helps readers determine whether the content applies to radiology billing, documentation, and reporting workflows.
Article Sections
-
Reporting MRE and Ultrasound Elastography Procedures
Overview of the article’s focus on elastography reporting within CPT 2019 and the general clinical context for these procedures.
-
Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE)
Discussion of the magnetic resonance elastography service, its relationship to imaging, and the broader procedure context addressed in the article.
-
Ultrasound Elastography
Discussion of ultrasound elastography reporting across parenchymal and lesion-based evaluations, along with general billing and reporting considerations.
-
Coding Tip
Practice-oriented guidance related to elastography reporting and interaction with other imaging services.
-
Coding Tip
Additional guidance addressing imaging guidance, liver elastography context, and how the article frames related reporting scenarios.
-
Clinical Example (76391) / Description of Procedure (76391)
A clinical scenario and associated procedure workflow illustrating the type of case addressed by the magnetic resonance elastography code.
-
Clinical Example (76981) / Description of Procedure (76981)
A clinical scenario and associated procedure workflow illustrating the type of case addressed by the parenchyma-focused ultrasound elastography code.
-
Clinical Example (76982) / Description of Procedure (76982)
A clinical scenario and associated procedure workflow illustrating the type of case addressed by the first target lesion ultrasound elastography code.
-
Clinical Example (76983) / Description of Procedure (76983)
A clinical scenario and associated procedure workflow illustrating the type of case addressed by the additional target lesion ultrasound elastography code.
What You Will Learn
- The overall scope of the CPT 2019 elastography article
- How the article frames magnetic resonance elastography and ultrasound elastography
- What kinds of clinical examples and procedure narratives are included
- Which radiology-related reporting topics are discussed at a high level
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Radiology billing staff
- Compliance professionals
- Radiologists
- Health information management professionals
Codes Discussed
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Quick, Current, Complete - www.findacode.com
