Cardiology Coding Alert
Keep Asking for Color Flow Specifics
Question: If the cardiologist documents moderate mitral regurgitation, is that sufficient to code a color flow study (+93325)?
New York Subscriber
Answer: The safest approach is to have the providers specifically document the use of color flow. A variety/combination of methods may be used to assess severity.
If your cardiologist performs and documents color flow, you should report +93325 (Doppler echocardiography color flow velocity mapping [List separately in addition to codes for echocardiography]). You should report +93325 only when your cardiologist specifically establishes that he performed a color flow study.
You should report +93320 (Doppler echocardiography, pulsed wave and/or continuous wave with spectral display [List separately in addition to codes for echocardiographic imaging]; complete) only when your cardiologist specifically establishes that he performed a Doppler spectral study. You’ll often see Doppler color flow and Doppler spectral documented together (this is standard protocol when performing a complete echocardiogram). However, the Doppler spectral is not always recorded and documented. If the technician does not record and document the service then this service should not be coded.
Watch for: Use add-on codes +93320 and +93325, as well as +93321 (Doppler echocardiography, pulsed wave and/or continuous wave with spectral display [List separately in addition to codes for echocardiographic imaging]; follow-up or limited study [List separately in addition to codes for echocardiographic imaging]) only with the component procedural codes listed as acceptable primary codes, such as 93308 (Echocardiography, transthoracic, real-time with image documentation [2D], includes M-mode recording, when performed, follow-up or limited study) or 93312 (Echocardiography, transesophageal, real-time with image documentation [2D] [with or without M-mode recording]; including probe placement, image acquisition, interpretation and report).
Do not use these add-on codes with complete echocardiogram services, such as 93306 (Echocardiography, transthoracic, real-time with image documentation [2D], includes M-mode recording, when performed, complete, with spectral Doppler echocardiography, and with color flow Doppler echocardiography).
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