Cardiology Coding Alert
Correct Pocket Revision Denial
Question: Can we bill 33233 ( Texas Subscriber Answer: Both of these edits have a "0" indicator under the Correct Coding Initiative, which means that no modifier will bypass the edit. This is why the carrier denied your claim and why carriers will deny future claims that violate these edits, no matter how you submit the initial claim. Some cardiology practices have had success with these denials on appeal. The approach that has worked in some cases is to explain fully the reason for the pocket revision. In some cases, the size of the generator being removed is significantly different from the size of the implanted generator. You could attach to your appeal pictures illustrating the size variance between the two generators and possibly dimensions to help illustrate the pocket-revision necessity. This data is available from the device manufacturer.
Cardiology Coding Alert
- Don't Take Hits Below the Belt When Coding Abdominal Arteries
Some cardiology coders, accustomed to the familiar pathways of the heart, may view the noncoronary [...] - Documentation of S/I Findings Is Crucial to Payment
The physician's procedure report must specifically describe the results of the radiological study to support [...] - Analyze Office Visits to Avoid Underpayment for Counseling
Tracking patient counseling and coordination-of-care time during an office visit can boost E/M levels and [...] - Electrode Placement Is Key to Coding Biventricular Procedures
CPT now contains a handful of brand-new pacemaker and cardioverter defibrillator codes, including freshly minted [...] - Bone Up on Biventricular Mechanism and Insertion Basics
Understanding how biventricular pacing systems work and what the implantation procedure involves should give cardiology [...] - Tack on 33225 for New Left Ventricular Leads
If the cardiologist is putting in a totally new biventricular system, regardless of whether it's [...] - You Be the Coder:
Unsuccessful Pacemaker Insertion
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Reader Question:
Use New Codes for Repositioning Pacers
Question: How should we code the following procedure? The cardiologist repositioned a dual-chamber pacemaker from [...] - Reader Question:
Correct Pocket Revision Denial
Question: Can we bill 33233 (Removal of permanent pacemaker pulse generator) and 33222 (Revision or [...] - Reader Question:
Link the Right CHF Codes to Biventricular Procedures
Question: One of our cardiologists diagnosed a 50-year-old patient with congestive heart failure (CHF) with [...] - Reader Question:
Code Induced Fibrillation With ICD Implants
Question: Please explain how to code the following procedure: One of our patients had biventricular [...] - Reader Question:
CCI Version 9.0 Addresses Ultrasonic Guidance With TEE
The latest edition of the national Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits version 9.0, effective Jan. [...] - Reader Question:
Intravascular Ultrasound Bundled With LHC?
Question: One of our managed-care plans insists that 92978 should be bundled with left heart [...] - Reader Question:
Check Viability Scanning
Question: What is a viability scan and how should I code it? One of our [...] - Reader Question:
Beware Lesion Detours When Coding Angiograms
Question: Please explain how to code the following: The physician accessed the right femoral artery, [...] - Reader Question:
Keep an Eye on Angioplasties Below the Knee
Question: One of our cardiologists performed a right superficial femoral angiogram with runoff, then a [...] - Reader Question:
Billing 93799 for Biventricular Interrogation
Question: Would you give me some direction on how to bill for interrogation, analysis and [...] - You Be the Coder:
Untangle PCP Referral Challenges
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...]
