FDA Approves Ultrasound Contrast Agent Lumason®

On April 4, 2016, the Food and Drug Administration approved an ultrasound contrast agent known as Lumason. This agent is approved for use in ultrasonography of the liver for characterization of focal liver lesions in adult and pediatric patients. Effective January 1, 2016, temporary Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II code C9457 (Lumason contrast agent) was replaced by a permanent HCPCS Level II code Q9950 (Injection, sulfur hexafluoride lipid microspheres, per ml). Given that there are no dedicated ultrasound contrast codes, when a contrast-enhanced ultrasound study of the liver is performed using Lumason, the ultrasound procedure may be reported with CPT code 76705; Ultrasound, abdominal, real time with image documentation; limited, and the injection of contrast reported with code 96374; Therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection (specify substance or drug); intravenous push, single or initial substance/drug. This is similar to longstanding coding guidance regarding the use of contrast agents for echocardiography. As noted in the January 2010 CPT Assistant, p. 8, the use of 96374 is appropriate for the administration of contrast material used during performance of a resting echocardiography (codes 93306, 93307, and 93308). “The injection of contrast media for imaging code 96374, Therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection (specify substance or drug); intravenous push, single or initial substance/drug, may be reported.” The u...
Source: American College of Radiology - Category: Radiology Source Type: news