Summary & Overview
HCPCS G9340: DICOM Image Data Available for Secure External Sharing
HCPCS Level II code G9340 identifies documentation that DICOM-format imaging data are made accessible to non-affiliated external healthcare facilities or entities on a secure, media-free, reciprocally searchable basis with patient authorization for a minimum of 12 months after the study. The code captures interoperability and data access practices that affect continuity of care, diagnostic follow-up, and cross-institutional collaboration. Nationally, this code is relevant as health systems increasingly prioritize image portability, vendor-neutral archives, and compliance with interoperability expectations.
Key payers covered in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of what the code represents, the clinical and operational contexts where it applies, and the practical implications for imaging departments and health information management teams. The publication outlines expected documentation elements tied to the code, common service settings, and where to look for policy updates affecting coverage and claim adjudication. Data not available in the input for specific payor policies, reimbursement benchmarks, associated taxonomies, ICD-10 mappings, and related codes are noted as not provided.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code G9340 denotes a final report documenting that DICOM-format image data are available to non-affiliated external healthcare facilities or entities on a secure, media-free, reciprocally searchable basis with patient authorization for at least a 12-month period after the study.
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Service type: Image data availability and secure electronic exchange of imaging studies in DICOM format
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Typical site of service: Radiology and medical imaging departments, hospital imaging centers, and other diagnostic imaging facilities where studies are produced and shared electronically
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient scenario involves a hospital radiology department completing an imaging study such as a CT, MRI, or ultrasound for a patient who will receive ongoing care at an outside, non-affiliated outpatient clinic. After the imaging study, the final radiology report documents that the DICOM-format image data are made available to non-affiliated external healthcare facilities or entities on a secure, media-free, reciprocally searchable basis with documented patient authorization for at least 12 months after the study. The clinical workflow includes image acquisition in the hospital PACS, radiologist interpretation and final report generation, verification of patient authorization for external image access, configuration of secure image-sharing (such as a vendor-neutral archive or secure cloud-based DICOM gateway), and confirmation in the final report that images and metadata are accessible to authorized external providers for continuity of care.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | When unusually extensive effort is required to prepare or provide the image data or documentation beyond typical processes for image sharing. |
23 | Unusual anesthesia |