Cardiology Coding Alert
Cardioversions With Conscious Sedation
Question: Our cardiologist performs cardioversions (92960, Cardioversion, elective, electrical conversion of arrhythmia; external) and administers conscious sedation to the patient. We have been denied by insurance carriers for the conscious sedation charge (99141, Sedation with or without analgesia [conscious sedation]; intravenous, intramuscular or inhalation) when performed by the cardiologist. How should we report this for proper reimbursement? California Subscriber Answer: When the Correct Coding Initiative introduced the concept of the global surgical/procedural package, one of the package's basic elements was "sedative administration by the physician performing the procedure," as well as "local, topical or regional anesthetic administered by the physician performing the procedure." (From the Correct Coding Initiative, Chapter 1, General Correct Coding Policies.)
Moreover, CMS indicates in its list of current relative value units (RVUs) and status of each CPT code that 99141 and 99142 ( oral, rectal and/or intranasal) should have a "B" under status. This means that CMS considers the service bundled into any other service on the same calendar day and will not pay for it separately.
Cardiology Coding Alert
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You stand a better chance of receiving full reimbursement for continuous/pulsed wave Doppler with spectral [...] - You Be The Coder:
Cardioversions With Conscious Sedation
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Reader Question:
Intra-Atrial Pacing
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Angiogram With Left Heart Catheter
Question: How should I code "angiogram of the right iliac artery"? The cardiologist performed it [...] - Reader Question:
Billing for Asymptomatic Patients
Question: How can we support billing a level-four or -five E/M visit or add-on tests [...] - Reader Question:
Omission of Atherectomy in Brachytherapy Placement
Question: What is CPT's logic in omitting 92995 (Percutaneous transluminal coronary atherectomy, by mechanical or [...] - Reader Question:
EKG and Sedation
Question: Why do private carriers such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Aetna always deny code [...] - Reader Question:
Multiple Stents in the Same Vessel
Question: We have been informed that we can get reimbursed for multiple stents in the [...] - Reader Question:
In-Office Thallium Stress Tests
Question: Our practice is going to start providing thallium stress tests in the office. I [...]
