AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC) — Question 100

Mr. Roland has difficulty breathing and congestion with a productive cough. The physician takes frontal and lateral view chest X-rays in the office (the equipment is owned by the physician group). The physician reads the X-rays and determines a diagnosis of walking pneumonia. The physician’s interpretation is placed in the patient’s chart.
How does the physician bill for the chest X-ray?

Answer options

• A. 71046-26
• B. 71046-26-TC
• C. 71046-TC
• D. 71046

Correct answer: A

Explanation

The correct code is 71046-26, which indicates that the physician is billing for the professional component of the X-ray interpretation. Option B includes the technical component, which is not applicable since the physician's group owns the equipment, while options C and D do not specify the professional component or are incomplete for billing purposes.