Diagnostic test– Personally Performed or Purchased
Diagnostic tests assist in identifying the nature and underlying cause of illness. They include services such as X-ray, EEG, cardiac monitoring, and ultrasound. The physician may personally perform these tests, or his or her employee may perform them under the physician ’ s direct supervision, or they may be purchased.
Purchased tests are not rendered personally by the physician or by his or her employee under the physician ’ s direct supervision. Tests administered by supplier personnel, at the physician ’ s office or at another location, are considered purchased tests. A physician ’ s financial interest in the supplier, perhaps as a limited partner or stockholder, does not change the consideration that these are pur- chased tests.
Diagnostic tests may be billed in one of five ways:
Global billing
Technical component only
Professional component only
Purchased technical component
Purchased professional component
