AAPC CPC Exam - Topic 3 Question 39 Discussion

Actual exam question for AAPC's CPC exam

Question #: 39
Topic #: 3

[All CPC Questions]

Mr. Roland has difficulty breathing and congestion with a productive cough. The physician takes frontal and lateral view chest X-rays in the office (the equipment is owned by the physician group). The physician reads the X-rays and determines a diagnosis of walking pneumoni

a. The physician's interpretation is placed in the patient's chart.

How does the physician bill for the chest X-ray?

A71046-26

B71046-26-TC

C71046-TC

D71046

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: D

For a physician who owns the equipment and interprets the chest X-rays (both frontal and lateral views), code 71046 is used. This code includes both the technical and professional components, as the equipment is owned by the physician group and the physician also provides the interpretation.

AMA's CPT Professional Edition (current year)

ICD-10-CM (current year)

by Chan at Nov 17, 2024, 08:05 PM

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Denna

3 months ago

Not sure about that, sounds too simple to be right.

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Dan

3 months ago

Pretty sure it's just 71046 for the X-ray itself.

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Bo

3 months ago

Wait, can they bill for both the reading and the equipment?

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Verlene

4 months ago

I think it's 71046-26-TC for the technical component.

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Casandra

4 months ago

The physician owns the equipment, so it's definitely a TC code.

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Goldie

4 months ago

I feel like I might be mixing up the codes. I remember 71046 is for the X-ray itself, but I'm not sure if it should include the interpretation or not.

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Lili

4 months ago

I practiced a similar question where the physician owned the equipment, and I think that changes how the billing is done. Maybe it's 71046-TC?

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Antione

4 months ago

I'm a bit unsure about the codes, but I think 71046-26 might be the right choice since it indicates the professional component.

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Letha

5 months ago

I remember discussing the difference between the technical component and the professional component in billing. I think the physician would bill for the interpretation separately.

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Xochitl

5 months ago

This is a good test of my coding knowledge. I'll methodically go through the details, eliminate any options that don't seem to fit, and select the code that accurately reflects the physician's actions.

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Charlette

5 months ago

I've seen questions like this before, so I think I've got a good handle on it. The key is to identify the appropriate CPT code based on the services provided. I'll carefully consider each option and select the one that best matches the scenario.

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Maia

5 months ago

Hmm, I'm a bit unsure about this one. Coding can be tricky, and I want to make sure I get it right. I'll re-read the question and the answer choices a few times to make sure I understand the nuances.

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Shay

5 months ago

Okay, let me think this through step-by-step. The physician performed a frontal and lateral chest X-ray, and the question is asking how to bill for that. I'll need to review the coding options and choose the one that best fits the scenario.

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Chanel

5 months ago

This seems like a straightforward coding question, but I want to make sure I understand the details before I answer. I'll read through the question carefully and consider the different options.

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Ellsworth

1 year ago

I'm going to have to go with option B as well. The -26 and -TC modifiers are crucial in ensuring the physician gets properly reimbursed for their services.

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Lavonda

1 year ago

Option B seems like the most comprehensive choice here. The physician is providing both the interpretation and the technical component, so they should bill accordingly.

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Daren

1 year ago

Option B is the most appropriate billing code for this situation.

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Cora

1 year ago

The physician should bill for both the interpretation and technical component, so option B is the way to go.

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Eileen

1 year ago

Yes, option B is the correct choice in this scenario.

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Tiara

1 year ago

I agree, option B makes sense. It covers both the interpretation and technical component.

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Kimberlie

1 year ago

Haha, this is a classic question! I bet the answer is B, but I'm just glad I don't have to deal with all these billing codes in my day-to-day life. Leave that to the experts!

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Kris

1 year ago

I'd say option D is the way to go. The physician owns the equipment, so they should bill the full 71046 code without any modifiers.

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Salena

1 year ago

I think option B) 71046-26-TC is the correct code to use. It includes both the professional and technical components.

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Fairy

1 year ago

I agree with Rosendo. The physician's interpretation is important, so the -26 modifier should be included.

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Cecilia

1 year ago

Definitely go with option B. The -26 modifier indicates the professional component, and the -TC modifier indicates the technical component. This ensures the physician gets paid for both the interpretation and the technical aspect of the X-ray.

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