Cardiology Coding Alert

Additions and deletions aren’t the only game in town.

Savvy coders know that Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edit changes aren’t always straightforward. Be sure you catch these subtle changes to edits for coronary angiography, left ventricle (LV) lead insertion, and more.

Biopsy Change Puts Coronary Angiography in Col. 1

CCI 19.2, effective July 1, swaps the columns for codes 93456 and 93505:

• 93456, Catheter placement in coronary artery(s) for coronary angiography, including intraprocedural injection(s) for coronary angiography, imaging supervision and interpretation; with right heart catheterization
• 93505, Endomyocardial biopsy.

Before July 1, 93505 was in Column 1 and 93456 was in Column 2. Now, the codes have swapped places, so 93505 is in the Column 2 position and is bundled into 93456. The modifier indicator remains 1, which means you may override the edit with a modifier when appropriate.

Modifiers Will No Longer Override These Edits

For all of the below edits, CCI 19.2 changed the modifier indicator from 1 (you may override) to 0 (you may never override).