Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: My cardiologist performed Holter monitoring. According to the medical documentation, he performed 10 hours of continuous rhythm, recording, and storage. He also performed the scanning analysis with report, the review and interpretation. Which CPT^® code should I report for this service, and do I need a modifier?

Arizona Subscriber

Answer: You should report 93224 (External electrocardiographic recording up to 48 hours by continuous rhythm recording and storage; includes recording, scanning analysis with report, review and interpretation by a physician or other qualified health care professional), which is considered the global code for a Holter monitor. Your cardiologist performed all the components of this procedure, so 93224 would be the appropriate code in this case.

Modifier alert: You should append modifier 52 (Reduced services) to code 93224. When you report Holter monitor codes 93224-93227, and the cardiologist performs less than 12 hours of continuous recording, you should append modifier 52 to the appropriate Holter monitor code, according to CPT^® Assistant Vol. 21, No. 10.