Summary & Overview
HCPCS G9328: DICOM Image Data Not Documented in Final Report
HCPCS Level II code G9328 documents instances where DICOM-format image data were available but not documented in the final radiology report for medical reasons, such as CT studies obtained specifically for radiation treatment planning or image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) delivery. Nationally, this code matters because it clarifies reporting when imaging data exist outside routine diagnostic reporting workflows and supports accurate administrative records for oncology imaging tied to therapeutic procedures. Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
Readers will learn the clinical context in which G9328 is used, the typical service settings (radiation oncology and hospital outpatient imaging suites), and how the code fits into documentation practices for treatment-planning imaging. The publication provides benchmarks and policy context where available, describes common billing considerations tied to treatment-planning workflows, and outlines how G9328 relates to image availability and final-report documentation. The summary highlights implications for coding consistency, claims processing, and administrative tracking of imaging performed to support radiation therapy delivery across payers. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code G9328 indicates that Dicom format image data availability was not documented in the final report due to medical reasons. The description specifies scenarios such as CT studies performed for radiation treatment planning or image-guided radiation treatment delivery.
Service type: Radiation treatment planning / image-guided radiation treatment imaging
Typical site of service: Radiation oncology departments, hospital outpatient departments, and specialized imaging suites used for treatment planning and delivery
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old patient with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer presents for CT simulation for radiation treatment planning. The radiation oncology team performs a dedicated CT simulation scan with immobilization devices and acquires volumetric DICOM images used to contour targets and plan dose. Because the images are captured and stored in DICOM format within the radiation oncology treatment planning system and are not immediately available for inclusion in the radiology final interpretive report for medical reasons (for example, CT studies performed specifically for radiation treatment planning or image-guided radiation treatment delivery), the final radiology report documents that DICOM-format image data availability is not documented due to medical reasons. The workflow includes image acquisition by CT technologists, transfer to the treatment planning system, target delineation by the radiation oncologist, and treatment planning by the dosimetrist and medical physicist. The radiology or radiation oncology final report notes the DICOM availability exception when images are retained for treatment delivery rather than standard radiology archival distribution.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional Component | Use when reporting only the physician interpretation component of a service separate from technical image acquisition. |