Find information on Low-Dose CT Lung Screening including CPT codes, ICD-10 codes, clinical documentation requirements, lung cancer screening guidelines, eligibility criteria, and reimbursement policies. Learn about the importance of accurate medical coding and documentation for low-dose CT lung cancer screening and ensure proper billing and compliance. Understand the role of radiology and pulmonology in the early detection of lung cancer with LDCT. Explore resources for healthcare professionals, patients, and coders related to low-dose computed tomography for lung cancer screening.
Also known as
Encounter for screening for malignant neoplasm of lung
Screening for lung cancer using low-dose CT.
Personal history of malignant neoplasm of lung
History of lung cancer, relevant for ongoing surveillance.
Abnormal finding on diagnostic imaging of lung
Used if incidental findings are detected during screening.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the patient receiving a low-dose CT scan for lung cancer screening?
Yes
Is there a personal history of lung cancer?
No
Do NOT code Z13.82. Code the reason for the CT scan.
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Low-dose CT lung cancer screening |
| Lung nodule (solitary) |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) |
Using wrong CPT code for LDCT lung screening (e.g., using chest CT code instead of G0297) impacts reimbursement and compliance.
Lack of documented patient eligibility criteria (age, smoking history, pack-years) for LDCT leads to audit denials and lost revenue.
Separately billing components of the LDCT lung screening exam (e.g., interpretation, image processing) instead of using the comprehensive code.
Low-dose CT lung cancer screening (LDCT) was performed on [Date] for [Patient Name], a [Age]-year-old [Gender] with a significant smoking history of [Number] pack-years. The patient meets the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) criteria for lung cancer screening, including age 50-80 years and a current smoker or former smoker who quit within the past 15 years. The patient reported no signs or symptoms suggestive of lung cancer, such as persistent cough, hemoptysis, or unexplained weight loss. Prior chest imaging history includes [mention prior imaging if applicable, e.g., chest x-ray in [Year], negative for acute findings]. Family history is notable for [mention family history of lung cancer if present]. The patient understands the benefits and risks of LDCT lung screening, including the possibility of false-positive results and the need for follow-up imaging or procedures. The patient has been counseled on smoking cessation. The current LDCT scan revealed [Findings, e.g., no pulmonary nodules detected, 5mm non-calcified nodule in the right upper lobe]. Based on these findings, [Plan, e.g., annual low-dose CT lung cancer screening recommended, short-term follow-up CT scan in 3 months recommended, referral to pulmonology for further evaluation]. Lung RADS category [Category, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4]. ICD-10 code Z12.21 (encounter for screening for malignant neoplasm of lung) and CPT code 71271 (low dose CT scan; without contrast material, followed by reconstruction; chest) were used for billing purposes. The patient was informed of the results and advised to schedule follow-up imaging as recommended.