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Official Description

Continuing medical physics consultation, including assessment of treatment parameters, quality assurance of dose delivery, and review of patient treatment documentation in support of the radiation oncologist, reported per week of therapy

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

Continuing medical physics consultation, as defined by CPT® Code 77336, refers to a systematic and ongoing evaluation performed by a qualified medical physicist throughout the duration of radiation therapy. This consultation is essential for ensuring that the radiation treatment is delivered safely and effectively to the patient. The process involves a comprehensive review of treatment documentation, which is critical for verifying that the prescribed radiation dose is accurately calculated and administered. The medical physicist assesses various treatment parameters, including the precision of the radiation dose delivery and the functionality of the equipment used in the treatment process. This includes a thorough examination of simulators, linear accelerators, block manufacturing devices, and treatment planning computers. The consultation is reported on a weekly basis, reflecting the continuous nature of the oversight required to maintain the integrity of the radiation therapy regimen. The physician also plays a vital role in this process by reviewing the treatment chart to confirm the accuracy of the radiation dose calculations and the data entry performed by the technician, ensuring that all aspects of the treatment plan are adhered to throughout the patient's therapy.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The continuing medical physics consultation is indicated for patients undergoing radiation therapy to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the treatment. The following conditions may warrant this consultation:

  • Ongoing Radiation Therapy Patients receiving radiation therapy require continuous monitoring to confirm that the treatment parameters are being met and that the radiation dose is delivered accurately.
  • Complex Treatment Plans Patients with intricate radiation treatment plans necessitate detailed assessments to ensure that all calculated treatment parameters are correctly implemented.
  • Quality Assurance Needs The need for quality assurance in dose delivery and equipment functionality is critical for patients undergoing radiation therapy, making this consultation essential.

2. Procedure

The procedure for continuing medical physics consultation involves several key steps that ensure the integrity of the radiation treatment process. Each step is crucial for maintaining the quality and safety of the therapy being administered.

  • Weekly Assessment The medical physicist conducts a weekly assessment of the treatment parameters, which includes reviewing the radiation dose calculations and ensuring that they align with the prescribed treatment plan. This step is vital for confirming that the treatment is being delivered as intended.
  • Quality Assurance Checks Quality assurance checks are performed on the equipment used for radiation delivery. This includes evaluating simulators, linear accelerators, and treatment planning computers to ensure they are functioning correctly and delivering the prescribed doses accurately.
  • Documentation Review A thorough review of patient treatment documentation is conducted. This involves verifying the accuracy of data entry by technicians and ensuring that all relevant information is correctly recorded in the patient's chart.
  • Ongoing Monitoring Continuous monitoring of the treatment delivery process is essential. The medical physicist documents any findings and recommendations to ensure that any issues are addressed promptly, maintaining the safety and effectiveness of the radiation therapy.

3. Post-Procedure

After the continuing medical physics consultation, the medical physicist provides a report summarizing the findings and any necessary adjustments to the treatment plan. The ongoing review process ensures that any changes in the patient's condition or treatment response are taken into account. The physician and medical physicist collaborate to implement any recommendations, ensuring that the patient continues to receive safe and effective radiation therapy. Regular follow-ups and assessments are essential to adapt the treatment as needed, promoting optimal patient outcomes throughout the course of therapy.

Short Descr RADIATION PHYSICS CONSULT
Medium Descr CONTINUING MEDICAL PHYSICS CONSLTJ PR WK
Long Descr Continuing medical physics consultation, including assessment of treatment parameters, quality assurance of dose delivery, and review of patient treatment documentation in support of the radiation oncologist, reported per week of therapy
Status Code Active Code
Global Days XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 3 - Technical Component Only Code
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 Procedure or Service, Not Discounted when Multiple
ASC Payment Indicator Radiology service paid separately when provided integral to a surgical procedure on ASC list; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight.
Type of Service (TOS) 6 - Therapeutic Radiology
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P7A - Oncology - radiation therapy
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 227 - Other diagnostic procedures (interview, evaluation, consultation)
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.
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
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
Q1 Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study
XE Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter
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
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
Q0 Investigational clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study
GV Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider
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.
Q5 Service furnished under a reciprocal billing 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
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.
56 Preoperative management only: when 1 physician or other qualified health care professional performed the preoperative care and evaluation and another performed the surgical procedure, the preoperative component may be identified by adding modifier 56 to the usual procedure number.
79 Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.)
95 Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via a real-time interactive audio and video telecommunications system: synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located at a distant site from the physician or other qualified health care professional. the totality of the communication of information exchanged between the physician or other qualified health care professional and the patient during the course of the synchronous telemedicine service must be of an amount and nature that would be sufficient to meet the key components and/or requirements of the same service when rendered via a face-to-face interaction. modifier 95 may only be appended to the services listed in appendix p. appendix p is the list of cpt codes for services that are typically performed face-to-face, but may be rendered via a real-time (synchronous) interactive audio and video telecommunications system.
CR Catastrophe/disaster related
GZ Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary
LT Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body)
PD Diagnostic or related non diagnostic item or service provided in a wholly owned or operated entity to a patient who is admitted as an inpatient within 3 days
QQ Ordering professional consulted a qualified clinical decision support mechanism for this service and the related data was provided to the furnishing professional
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
X2 Continuous/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians whose expertise is needed for the ongoing management of a chronic disease or a condition that needs to be managed and followed with no planned endpoint to the relationship; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to: a rheumatologist taking care of the patient's rheumatoid arthritis longitudinally but not providing general primary care services
XS Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure
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