Howdy!
Our radiologists are receiving an increasing number of requests to provide an opinion and/or interpretation of outside imaging studies on patients coming to our facility for either second opinion imaging studies or follow up studies. For example, a mammogram patient showing up with a mammogram, breast MRI, and ultrasound from another facility and asking us to look at the old images both for planning and comparison but also opinion as to whether the original studies were interpreted accurately.
This is nuanced as what constitutes a simple comparison to old studies versus a true consultation on the previous studies, as well as what does the rad dictate, etc.... but how are you all billing for these types of consults on outside previously performed studies? Does it matter what the rad dictates? For example is it one dictation referencing the old studies versus a completely redictated report in the format he/she would use as if it were the original dictation?
Thanks,
Michael W. Langenberg, FRBMA
Executive Director for University Radiology
2240 Sutherland Avenue, Suite 107
Knoxville, TN 37919
(865) 803-2973 (cell)
www.utrad.com