October 31, 2005

ACR Radiology Coding Source™ September-October 2005

New in 2005

Nuclear Medicine Coding User's Guide 2005

The ACR Nuclear Medicine Coding User’s Guide 2005 is now available and includes the new and revised nuclear medicine CPT® codes for 2005. A short narrative paragraph is provided for each of the codes presented in the guide to assist the user in the selection of the most appropriate code for nuclear medicine studies. The cost of the guide is: book only, $80 for members, $150 for nonmembers; CD-ROM, $80 for members, $150 for nonmembers; both book and CD-ROM, $120 for members, $190 for nonmembers.

AMA/ACR Clinical Examples in Radiology

The ACR and the American Medical Association (AMA) have collaborated on a new coding-educational, quarterly publication titled Clinical Examples in Radiology, a practical guide to correct coding. The main goal of this publication is to provide authoritative advice and guidance to help professional coders, physician practices, and billing services understand the correct, practical application of CPT® codes in the daily process of radiology coding. Clinical Examples in Radiology debuted in fall 2004. To request a free copy of the inaugural issue with a special subscriber savings rate, please e-mail erin_kalitowski@ama-assn.org. Subscribers received the first issue in January 2005. The ACR is the first medical specialty with which the AMA has collaborated to produce a publication aimed at physicians and coding specialists. ACR physicians and staff will provide the content of the publication, while the AMA will provide marketing and distribution. The organizations will share editorial responsibility.

Each issue on average contains 12 pages in 5 sections (3 to 4 clinical examples, radiology coding Q&A, documentation challenge, 2 interim bulletin articles per year, and a 10-question self-quiz). Readers can obtain CEU credits for completing the self-quiz. For AMA and ACR members, the price is $179 for 1 year and $285 for 2 years. The price is $225 for 1 year and $360 for 2 years for nonmembers.

Other guides and publications available include:

ACR Radiology Coding Source™ Electronic Newsletter 
ASTRO/ACR Guide to Radiation Oncology Coding 2005
SIR/ACR/RBMA/AHRA Interventional Coding User's Guide 2004 (2005 update to be released later this year)
Ultrasound Coding User's Guide 2003