title: CPT coding by interventional radiologists: a multi-institutional evaluation of accuracy and its economic implications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the accuracy of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding for interventional radiology procedures and the associated professional economic impact when coding is performed by operating physicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Procedure reports and physician charge sheets were obtained for 549 interventional radiology encounters performed by 62 physicians at 23 hospitals and analyzed for appropriate CPT code use. Physician-selected CPT codes were reviewed by experts, who determined correct coding by consensus. Physician coding errors and professional relative value unit (RVU) impact were analyzed. Expert discordance and associated RVU impact were similarly evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physicians correctly coded only 242 of 549 IR cases (44%). The overall professional RVU impact of their errors was +4.2% (overcoding). Physician coding was correct least frequently for complex arterial interventions (15 of 53, 28%) and dialysis access interventions (16 of 54, 30%) and correct most frequently for less code-intensive drainage (19 of 31, 61%) and biopsy procedures (35 of 47, 74%). Experts were initially concordant in 497 of 549 cases (91%), with only a minimal tendency (+0.3% RVU) toward overcoding. Expert coding differences were explained by simple code oversights (28 of 52, 54%), coding guideline ambiguity (15 of 52, 29%), and physician documentation ambiguity (9 of 52, 17%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When interventionalists code their own procedures, CPT errors are common, but the associated RVU impact is small. Given the consequences of incorrect coding, physician-assigned CPT codes warrant review by experienced coders before claims submission. Although radiology practices should strive for perfect coding, expert discordance suggests that this goal is unattainable but less elusive than for nonradiology services.
authors.affiliation: West Reading Radiology Associates, Department of Radiology, Reading, Pennsylvania 19612-6052, USA. rduszak@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duszak
authors.forename: Walter C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Blackham
authors.forename: Gregory M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Kusiak
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Majchrzak
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017046:Cost Savings; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D039702:Current Procedural Terminology; D005260:Female; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006801:Humans; D007344:Insurance Claim Reporting / Q000145:classification*; D008297:Male; D011216:Practice Management, Medical / Q000191:economics*; D015642:Radiology, Interventional / Q000191:economics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017749:Total Quality Management; D014481:United States