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Question: A patient presented for a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan of their axial skeleton. Later that day, the physician contacted the patient via telephone to discuss the results. The phone call lasted 15 minutes.

Do I report 98967 with 77080?

Nevada Subscriber

Answer: No, you won鈥檛 report 98967 (Telephone assessment and management service provided by a nonphysician qualified health care professional to an established patient, parent, or guardian not originating from a related assessment and management service provided within the previous 7 days nor leading to an assessment and management service or procedure within the next 24 hours or soonest available appointment; 11-20 minutes of medical discussion) with 77080 (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bone density study, 1 or more sites; axial skeleton (eg, hips, pelvis, spine)).

When the physician makes a phone call to the patient to discuss the results of their test, it is part of the cost of operating a practice and cannot be reimbursed separately.

According to the CPT^庐 guidelines, 鈥淸I]f the telephone call refers to a service performed and reported by the qualified health care professional within the previous seven days (either qualified health care professional requested or unsolicited patient follow-up) or within the postoperative period of the previously completed procedure, then the service(s) are considered part of that previous service or procedure.鈥�

Mike Shaughnessy, BA, CPC, Development Editor, AAPC