Cardiology Coding Alert
Portable Echocardiograph Machine
Montana Subscriber
Answer: Billing for use of a portable echocardiograph machine depends on whether images are printed. Carriers will not pay if images are not printed, i.e., the cardiologist views the images on a screen. Because many of these portable echocardiograph machines cannot print images, additional software may be required.
If the service is performed using a device that can print images, a limited echocardiogram performed in the office may be billed 93307 (echocardiography, transthoracic, real-time with image documentation [2D] with or without M-mode recording; complete) or 93308 (... follow-up or limited study) as long as the cardiologist owns the device.
In some cases, however, the cardiologist may take the device to the hospital for use on the floor. When this occurs, and the device is able to print images, modifier -26 (professional component) should be appended to 93307 or 93308 because the fee for the service is already included in the diagnosis-related group for the problem the cardiologist is treating. The results of the echocardiogram should be documented and available for review.
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