Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: My cardiologist performed a radial artery graft angiography during a cardiac catheterization. Which code should I report?

Minnesota subscriber

Answer: You should use 93539 (Injection procedure during cardiac catheterization; for selective opacification of arterial conduits [e.g., internal mammary], whether native or used for bypass). This code describes the imaging of arterial conduits such as the left and right internal mammary arteries, in situ gastroepiploic artery, or radial artery.

Although coding experts may suggest that you should use 93539 only for bypass grafts, the descriptor is clear that you should report 93539 for native arterial conduit imaging.

Keep in mind: You should steer clear of the code for coronary artery bypass graft, 93540 (Injection procedure during cardiac catheterization; for selective opacification of aortocoronary venous bypass grafts, one or more coronary arteries), and the code for aortic angiogram performed with LHC, 93544 (Injection procedure during cardiac catheterization; for aortography). These codes are for venous bypass graft studies and aortic root studies, respectively.

- You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were prepared with the assistance of Jim Collins, ACS-CA, CHCC, CPC, president of Compliant MD Inc. and compliance manager for several cardiology groups around the country; and reviewed by Jerome Williams Jr., MD, FACC, a cardiologist with Mid Carolina Cardiology in Charlotte, N.C.