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Revised Billing Instructions for PET Scans

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Thursday, September 24, 2009

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Effective April 6, 2009, CMS expanded the coverage of PET scans for initial treatment (diagnosis and staging) and subsequent treatment (restaging and monitoring response to treatment) for most solid tumors.  FDG PET scans for certain cancers, especially for subsequent treatments, must still be provided under the coverage with evidence development/coverage with study participation (CED/CSP) paradigm.  Please see the table at the end of this article for a summary of coverage by tumor type.  Coverage changes are indicated with an asterisk (*).

On July 17, 2009 CMS released two transmittals manualizing the NCDs and providing billing instructions.  However, these transmittals were rescinded and replaced with Transmittal 1817 and Transmittal 106 released September 18, 2009.  The new transmittals added some CPT codes and removed the specification of a diagnosis code range. 

The transmittals introduce two new modifiers and provide billing instructions for reporting PET scans.  Hospitals are required to begin using the new modifiers October 19, 2009 for claims with date of service on or after April 6, 2009.

PI – Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or PET/Computed Tomography (CT) to inform the initial treatment strategy of tumors that are biopsy proven or strongly suspected of being cancerous based on other diagnostic testing.  Short descriptor: PET tumor init tx strat

PS – Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or PET/Computed Tomography (CT) to inform the subsequent treatment strategy of cancerous tumors when the beneficiary’s treatment physician determines that the PET study is needed to inform subsequent anti-tumor strategy. Short descriptor: PET tumor subsq tx strategy

Claims for PET Scans for Initial Treatment Strategy for Covered Cancers must include:

  • PET/PET/CT CPT code (78608, 78811, 78812, 78813, 78814, 78815,78816) and
  • -PI modifier
  • Coverage limited to only (1) one time per cancer type

Claims for PET Scans for Subsequent Treatment Strategy for Covered Cancers must include:

  •  PET/PET/CT CPT code (78608, 78811, 78812, 78813, 78814, 78815,78816) and
  • -PS modifier and
  •  ICD-9 cancer diagnosis code

Claims for PET Scans for Initial or Subsequent Strategy under CED must include:

  •  PET/PET/CT CPT code (78608, 78811, 78812, 78813, 78814, 78815,78816) and
  • –PI modifier or –PS modifier as appropriate and
  • ICD-9 cancer diagnosis code and
  • Modifier –QO
  • Diagnosis code V70.7 and condition code 30 for institutional claims to denote a clinical trial
  • National Oncologic PET Registry (NOPR) data collection required

Hospitals need to develop internal processes to:
- determine the reason for an oncologic PET scan when it is ordered – i.e. diagnosis or staging (initial treatment strategy) or restaging or monitoring response to treatment (subsequent treatment strategy)
- ensure the appropriate modifier(s) are present on the claim
- verify an appropriate diagnosis is provided and coded

Appendix A: Effect of Coverage Changes on Oncologic Uses of FDG PET
See NCD Manual for specific coverage language.

Final Framework
Solid Tumor TypeInitial Treatment Strategy*Subsequent Treatment Strategy**
ColorectalCoverCover
EsophagusCoverCover
Head & Neck (not thyroid or CNS)CoverCover
LymphomaCoverCover
Non-small cell lungCoverCover
OvaryCoverCover
BrainCoverCED
Cervix(1) or CEDCover
Small cell lungCoverCED
Soft Tissue SarcomaCoverCED
PancreasCoverCED
TestesCoverCED
Breast (female and male)(2)Cover
Melanoma(3)Cover
ProstateN/CCED
ThyroidCover(4) or CED
All other solid tumorsCoverCED
MyelomaCoverCover
All other cancers not listed hereinCEDCED

 * Formerly “diagnosis” and “staging”
** Formerly “restaging” and “monitoring response to treatment when a change in treatment is anticipated”
N/C = noncover

(1) Cervix: Covered for the detection of pre-treatment metastases (i.e., staging) in newly diagnosed cervical cancer subsequent to conventional imaging that is negative for extra-pelvic metastasis. All other uses are CED.
(2) Breast: Noncovered for diagnosis and/or initial staging of axillary lymph nodes. Covered for initial staging of metastatic disease.
(3) Melanoma: Noncovered for initial staging of regional lymph nodes. All other uses for initial staging are covered.
(4) Thyroid: Covered for subsequent treatment strategy of recurrent or residual thyroid cancer of follicular cell origin previously treated by thyroidectomy and radioiodine ablation and have a serum thyroglobulin >10ng/ml and have a negative I-131 whole body scan. All other uses for subsequent treatment strategy are CED.

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This material was compiled to share information.  MMP, Inc. is not offering legal advice. Every reasonable effort has been taken to ensure the information is accurate and useful.