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A joint survey, single view, of two or more joints is a diagnostic imaging procedure primarily utilized to assess the condition of multiple joints in a single radiographic view. This procedure is particularly relevant in the evaluation of various arthritic conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and advanced-stage gout. Patients presenting with symptoms such as joint pain, tenderness, swelling, and deformity may be candidates for this imaging study. The procedure typically involves obtaining skeletal X-rays of the hands and wrists, where a straight posterior-anterior view is employed to capture both the right and left hands and wrists on the same film. Additionally, the knees can be included in the survey, utilizing a nonweight-bearing, straight posterior-anterior view to obtain images of both the right and left knees on the same film. This comprehensive approach allows for a thorough evaluation of joint health and assists healthcare providers in making informed decisions regarding diagnosis and treatment options.
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The joint survey, single view, of two or more joints is indicated for the evaluation of specific conditions and symptoms that affect joint health. The following are the primary indications for this procedure:
The procedure for a joint survey, single view, of two or more joints involves several key steps to ensure accurate imaging and assessment of the joints. The following outlines the procedural steps:
After the joint survey is completed, the images are reviewed for clarity and diagnostic quality. The radiologist or healthcare provider will interpret the results, looking for signs of the indicated conditions such as joint erosion, swelling, or other abnormalities. Patients may be advised on any necessary follow-up appointments or additional imaging studies based on the findings. There are typically no specific post-procedure care requirements, and patients can resume normal activities immediately unless otherwise instructed by their healthcare provider.
| Short Descr | JOINT SURVEY SINGLE VIEW | Medium Descr | JOINT SURVEY SINGLE VIEW 2 OR MORE JOINTS | Long Descr | Joint survey, single view, 2 or more joints (specify) | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 1 - Diagnostic Tests for Radiology Services | Multiple Procedures (51) | 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | STV-Packaged Codes | ASC Payment Indicator | Packaged service/item; no separate payment made. | Type of Service (TOS) | 4 - Diagnostic Radiology | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | I1B - Standard imaging - musculoskeletal | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 226 - Other diagnostic radiology and related techniques |
| 26 | Professional component: certain procedures are a combination of a physician or other qualified health care professional component and a technical component. when the physician or other qualified health care professional component is reported separately, the service may be identified by adding modifier 26 to the usual procedure number. | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | TC | Technical component; under certain circumstances, a charge may be made for the technical component alone; under those circumstances the technical component charge is identified by adding modifier 'tc' to the usual procedure number; technical component charges are institutional charges and not billed separately by physicians; however, portable x-ray suppliers only bill for technical component and should utilize modifier tc; the charge data from portable x-ray suppliers will then be used to build customary and prevailing profiles | X5 | Diagnostic services requested by another clinician: for reporting services by a clinician who furnishes care to the patient only as requested by another clinician or subsequent and related services requested by another clinician; this modifier is reported for patient relationships that may not be adequately captured by the above alternative categories; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the radiologist's interpretation of an imaging study requested by another clinician | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | FY | X-ray taken using computed radiography technology/cassette-based imaging | 52 | Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use). | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | 76 | Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 77 | Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | F7 | Right hand, third digit | F9 | Right hand, fifth digit | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | GY | Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit | MG | The order for this service does not have applicable appropriate use criteria in the qualified clinical decision support mechanism consulted by the ordering professional | Q6 | Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | T1 | Left foot, second digit | T5 | Right foot, great toe | TA | Left foot, great toe | X4 | Episodic/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians who provide focused care on particular types of treatment limited to a defined period and circumstance; the patient has a problem, acute or chronic, that will be treated with surgery, radiation, or some other type of generally time-limited intervention; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the orthopedic surgeon performing a knee replacement and seeing the patient through the postoperative period | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter |
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| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Short description changed. |
| 2007-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 2007. |
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