Ultrasound: 4 things you should remember to bill ultrasound services correctly; OIG plans to look for excessive ultrasound usage in 2008

Why This Topic Matters

Ultrasound services are a frequent focus of medical necessity review and claim denial review. Understanding the broad compliance issues covered here can help practices assess whether their billing, documentation, and supervision processes align with payer expectations.

Article Sections

1. OIG plans to look for excessive ultrasound usage in 2008

   Summarizes the government interest in ultrasound utilization and the Medicare billing context discussed in the article. It also introduces the regional usage focus and the general compliance concerns raised by consultants.

2. 4 things to remember about ultrasounds

   Reviews the major billing and documentation areas highlighted for ultrasound services. The section covers diagnosis specificity, patient assessment, supervision, and adherence to CPT-based procedural requirements.

3. In case OIG does come knocking, be prepared for a thorough inspection.

   Describes the types of records and materials that may be requested during a review. It reinforces the article’s compliance and audit-preparedness theme.