The radiologist provides the interpretation only

Imaging service

Fictional patient receives a diagnostic CT study in a hospital outpatient imaging department. The hospital supplies the scanner, technical personnel and resources used to produce the images. Assume the selected current entry permits professional and technical component reporting.

Professional work

A separate radiology practice receives the images, performs the interpretation and produces a signed written report. The interpreting radiologist does not supply the hospital’s technical resources. All other professional reporting requirements are assumed met for this component exercise.

Billing responsibility

The claim under review belongs to the independent radiology practice, not the hospital. The practice’s documented service is the interpretation and report. The case does not describe reassignment of the hospital’s technical service or another basis for global billing by that practice.

Choice to review

A draft selects the global service without a component modifier. Compare that with the professional-only pathway for the stated entry. Verify the PC/TC indicator, service location and actual responsibility rather than choosing a component from the code’s anatomical name.

Your coding worksheet

1. Identify which entity produced the images.
2. Identify who interpreted and reported them.
3. Evaluate the global claim by the radiology practice.
4. Select the component modifier under the stated assumptions.

In your notebook, record the supported facts, your index route, the instructions you checked, and any missing detail that limits your answer.