If a patient is sent to the hospital (outpatient) to get an ultrasound guided biopsy done; can the radiologist (in hospital) order, or add on a diagnostic ultrasound if he deems it medically necessary
before going forward with the US guided biopsy? I understand at an imaging center they need an order. But I'm a little confused about when it's in the hospital.
I'm not sure if this falls under:
"The definition of treating physician in the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual is the same as in the Medicare Conditions of Participation for physicians. In the context of radiology services, a radiologist performing a diagnostic radiological procedure (including diagnostic interventional radiology procedures) is not considered a treating physician; however, if an interventional radiologist performs a therapeutic intervention, the radiologist is considered a treating physician."
If he's doing a
diagnostic biopsy then he would
not be considered the treating MD and could not order the additional ultrasound is what I'm understanding from this, but I'm not clear if that's just for an Imaging Center or Hospital rule.
Thank you for your comments.
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[Hulah] [Gorby] [CPC, CPMA]
[Coding Supervisor]
[Custom Data Services, Inc]
[Merrillville] [IN]
[219-769-1670]
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