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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedures on the Musculoskeletal SystemCPT cpt-78351-bone-mineral-density-dual-energy-photon-absorptiometry
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    CPT 78351: Dual-Energy Photon Bone Mineral Density Measurement

    CPT code 78351 describes a dual-energy photon technique to measure bone mineral density (BMD), used to quantify mineral content per unit area in bone for evaluation of conditions such as osteoporosis; this procedure is an imaging diagnostic service typically performed in an outpatient radiology or bone densitometry clinic setting using two different energy photon beams to generate BMD measurements.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Clinical Review Criteria Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM), Remote Electrical Neuromodulation for Migraines (i.e., Nerivio®), Lumbar Microdiscectomy.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 67-year-old postmenopausal woman is referred by her primary care provider for bone mineral density (BMD) testing after a fragility wrist fracture and long-term corticosteroid therapy for polymyalgia rheumatica. The patient arrives at an outpatient imaging center for a dual-photon absorptiometry study using two different energy photon beams to measure BMD of the lumbar spine and proximal femur. The clinical workflow includes registration and verification of demographics and insurance, review of indications and prior imaging, screening for pregnancy (if applicable), removal of metallic objects, positioning on the scanning table, acquisition of lumbar spine and hip scans, generation of T-score and Z-score reports, technologist review for image quality, and transmission of the final report to the referring provider. The study is typically ordered to evaluate for osteoporosis, monitor response to therapy, or assess fracture risk.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78351Dual-energy photon BMD measurement (two different energy photon beams)Primary procedure to quantify bone mineral density using two energy photon beams
    77080Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bone density study, 1 or more sites; axial skeleton (e.g., spine, hip)Common alternative or successor code used for DXA scans of spine and hip; performed in same clinical context to assess osteoporosis and fracture risk
    77081Bone density study, peripheral site (e.g., wrist, heel)Performed when peripheral BMD assessment is indicated instead of or in addition to axial DXA
    76977Ultrasound bone density testing, quantitative peripheralAlternative modality for peripheral bone assessment when ionizing radiation is to be avoided
    99213Office/outpatient established patient visit, low to moderate complexityTypical visit code for the referring physician or follow-up visit discussing BMD results and management

    Related Modifiers

    12 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    54Modifier ‑54 (“Surgical care only”) is appended to a CPT surgical procedure when the reporting surgeon performs the intraoperative (surgical) component but does not furnish the preoperative and/or…- Use modifier -54 when the reporting surgeon provided only the intraoperative (surgical) component of a procedure and preoperative and/or postoperative management has been or will be provided by…
    55Modifier –55 indicates the billing provider furnished only postoperative management for a procedure that has a global surgical period. According to AAPC, this modifier is appended to the same CPT…- Use modifier -55 when billing the same CPT surgical code that has a 10- or 90-day global period and you, as a provider other than the original surgeon, furnished ONLY postoperative management (no…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…

    Showing 1–10 of 12

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    163W00000X
    367A00000X
    172P00000X
    2081P0010X
    2080P0202X
    3140N1450X
    101200000X
    183700000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    28 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C50.912Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of left female breast
    C79.51Secondary malignant neoplasm of bone
    E03.9Hypothyroidism, unspecified
    E10.9Type 1 diabetes mellitus without complications
    E11.9Type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications
    E23.0Hypopituitarism
    E89.1Postprocedural hypoinsulinemia
    F99Mental disorder, not otherwise specified
    M06.9Rheumatoid arthritis, unspecified
    M15.0Primary generalized (osteo)arthritis

    Showing 1–10 of 28

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Neurology/Neurosurgery1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Clinical Review Criteria Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM)Kaiser Permanente2027-01-01
    Remote Electrical Neuromodulation for Migraines (i.e., Nerivio®)bcbsvermont2026-11-01
    Lumbar Microdiscectomyuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Artificial Cervical Intervertebral Discuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Lumbar Decompressionuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Responsive Neurostimulation for Focal EpilepsyPremera Bluecross2026-10-14
    Intraoperative MonitoringProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Intraoperative MonitoringProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    High-Intensity Focused UltrasoundMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-10-01
    Vagal Nerve StimulationAmbetter Nevada2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-78300-BONE-SCAN-LIMITED-AREA-SCINTIGRAPHY

    CPT 78300: Bone Scan (Limited Area Scintigraphy)

    CPT-78305-BONE-SCAN-SCINTIGRAPHY-MULTI-REGION

    CPT 78305: Bone Scan (Skeletal Scintigraphy)

    CPT-78306-FULL-BODY-BONE-SCAN-SCINTIGRAPHY

    CPT 78306: Full‑Body Bone Scan (Scintigraphy)

    CPT-78315-THREE-PHASE-BONE-SCAN-SCINTIGRAPHY

    CPT 78315: Three-Phase Bone Scan (Scintigraphy)

    CPT-78350-BONE-MINERAL-DENSITY-SINGLE-PHOTON-ABSORPTIOMETRY

    CPT 78350: Single-Energy Photon Bone Mineral Density Measurement

    CPT-78399-MUSCULOSKELETAL-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-UNLISTED-PROCEDURE

    CPT 78399: Musculoskeletal Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedure (Unlisted)

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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