Coding for pulmonary ventilation and perfusion imaging

Q.

Our pulmonary ventilation and perfusion imaging is done by SPECT/CT. If we submit CPT^® code 78582 along with the CPT code 78830 will we be “double dipping”? 

A.

Yes. SPECT and SPECT/CT codes include limited planar imaging, so you can’t report a limited planar exam, such as a ventilation and perfusion scan, with a SPECT/CT. You can only charge for both planar and SPECT or SPECT/CT if the planar imaging is whole-body exam. Currently there are CCI edits that keep even that from happening in some cases.