AbstractID: 7709 Title: Using the Guide for Technical Charges in Radiation Oncology
The final version of the ACR/ASTRO Radiation Oncology Coding User’s Guide was released before the fall ASTRO meeting in
2001. A delay in AMA approval pushed the hardcopy availability date to March 2002. The Guide provides a plethora of information
for the radiation oncology professional including the machinations of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the
organization of the regional medicare centers along with the ACR’s Carrier Advisory Committee activities – and much more. The
discussion of CPT codes (and APC analogs in the hospital environment) in radiation oncology practice will be presented along with
some new “wrinkles” promulgated in the new Guide. A series of appendices provides the user with additional information regarding
details contained in the main body of the Guide. As the landscape is ever changing in this area of our professional endeavor, the
author will speak to the latest updates relative to reimbursement in our field with the Guide as a backdrop for discussion.
At the completion of the presentation, the attendee will:
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Become familiar with the ACR/ASTRO Radiation Oncology Coding User’s Guide
Be able to correctly asses appropriate use of codes to cover work effort in radiation oncology procedures
Be able to work with the Guide to understand how Medical Radiation Physics fits into the scheme of patient services and
reimbursement
Become knowledgeable about the mechanics of coding to enable fruitful discussions with the attendees’ billing office personnel
Understand some of the complex underpinnings of health care economics