Hybrid Imaging Virtual Workshop (02 24)-Workflow and Billing Considerations

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this session, titled "Workflow and Billing Considerations", Tim Bateman, co-director of cardiovascular radiologic imaging at MidAmerica Heart Institute, discusses preauthorization issues for hybrid SPECT and hybrid PET myocardial perfusion imaging. He explains that there are no preauthorization issues for SPECT, regardless of the method used for attenuation correction. However, there are additional costs involved in hybrid SPECT due to the CT scanner, which requires certified techs and additional MD work. Bateman also highlights the importance of obtaining a CT scan for the detection of subclinical coronary disease in patients with no known coronary disease. When it comes to PET, there may be potential issues with higher payments for PET CT compared to dedicated PET studies, and there is also a need to assess coronary calcium with PET. He provides options for dealing with preauthorization denials and emphasizes the need for accurate interpretation and reporting of hybrid studies. Finally, he touches on the challenges of hybrid billing and ensuring that overread reports reach the referring physician.

Keywords

Workflow and Billing Considerations

preauthorization issues

hybrid SPECT

hybrid PET

myocardial perfusion imaging