How To Use CPT Code 75870
CPT 75870 describes the radiological supervision and interpretation of a venography of the superior sagittal sinus. This article will cover the description, procedure, qualifying circumstances, appropriate usage, documentation requirements, billing guidelines, historical information, similar codes and billing examples.
1. What is CPT Code 75870?
CPT 75870 can be used to describe the radiological supervision and interpretation of a venography of the superior sagittal sinus. This code is used when a provider performs X-rays of the veins in the cerebral hemispheres of the brain after the administration of contrast material. The purpose of this procedure is to identify the location and degree of a blood clot.
2. Official Description
The official description of CPT code 75870 is: ‘Venography, superior sagittal sinus, radiological supervision and interpretation.’
3. Procedure
- The provider begins by giving local anesthesia to the access site.
- A needle is then used to puncture the vein, typically the cephalic vein.
- A guidewire is inserted to assist the catheter in advancing and reaching the vessel via the jugular vein.
- Once the catheter has reached the target point, the guidewire is removed.
- The provider visualizes the superior sagittal sinus after injecting contrast medium, using fluoroscopy.
4. Qualifying circumstances
CPT 75870 is performed when a provider needs to perform radiological supervision and interpretation of a venography of the superior sagittal sinus. This procedure is typically done to identify the location and degree of a blood clot. It is important to note that this code is reported by a radiologist to describe the “radiological supervision and interpretation (RSI)” part of the procedure.
5. When to use CPT code 75870
CPT code 75870 should be used when a provider performs the radiological supervision and interpretation of a venography of the superior sagittal sinus. It is important to ensure that the procedure involves the imaging of the small veins in the cerebral hemispheres of the brain after the administration of contrast material.
6. Documentation requirements
To support a claim for CPT 75870, the provider must document the following information:
- Details of the procedure performed, including the use of contrast material
- Date and time of the procedure
- Specific findings and interpretations made by the provider
- Signature of the provider performing the radiological supervision and interpretation
7. Billing guidelines
When billing for CPT 75870, it is important to ensure that the provider performing the service is a radiologist. If only the physician’s interpretation is being reported, the professional component modifier 26 should be appended to the radiology code. If only the technical component is being reported, modifier TC should be appended to the radiology code. However, it is important to note that payer policies may exempt hospitals from appending modifier TC. If the provider renders both the professional and technical components, no modifier should be appended to the radiology code.
8. Historical information
CPT 75870 was added to the Current Procedural Terminology system on January 1, 1990. There have been no updates to the code since its addition.
9. Examples
- A radiologist performing the radiological supervision and interpretation of a venography of the superior sagittal sinus to identify the location and degree of a blood clot in a patient.
- A radiologist using fluoroscopy to visualize the superior sagittal sinus after injecting contrast medium during a venography procedure.
- A radiologist documenting specific findings and interpretations made during the radiological supervision and interpretation of a venography of the superior sagittal sinus.
- A radiologist signing off on the report for the radiological supervision and interpretation of a venography of the superior sagittal sinus.
- A radiologist billing for the radiological supervision and interpretation of a venography of the superior sagittal sinus using CPT code 75870.
