Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: What is the appropriate CPT^® code to report for Holter monitoring when the recording is 72 hours or more? Code 93227 would be used for recording for up to 48 hours by continuous rhythm recording and storage, review, and interpretation, correct? However, when the Holter monitor recording is 72 hours or more, I’m not sure which code to report. Can you please help me?

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Answer: If your cardiologist performs Holter monitoring for 72 hours or more, look to the following codes that cover more than 48 hours and up to seven days of monitoring:

93241 (External electrocardiographic recording for more than 48 hours up to 7 days by continuous rhythm recording and storage; includes recording, scanning analysis with report, review and interpretation). Note: This code represents all the components of recording, scanning analysis with report, and the provider’s review and interpretation.

• 93242 (… recording (includes connection and initial recording). Note: This code is specific to the recording service, including connecting the device and performing initial recording.
• 93243 (… scanning analysis with report). Note: This code represents only the scanning analysis with report.
• 93244 (… review and interpretation). Note: This code represents only the provider’s review and interpretation.

To choose the appropriate code from the list above, check the documentation to see which components of the monitoring service your cardiologist performed. For example, if your provider performed only the scanning analysis with report component of a Holter monitoring service that lasted 72 hours, report 93243.

Don’t miss: On the other hand, when your cardiologist performs Holter monitoring up to 48 hours, you can look to a code like 93227 (External electrocardiographic recording up to 48 hours by continuous rhythm recording and storage; review and interpretation by a physician or other qualified health care professional), which you also mentioned in your question. Code 93227 is an individual component code choice that may apply when your cardiologist performs Holter monitoring but only performs a specific part of the procedure instead of the global service (93224). The global service 93224 includes the recording, scanning analysis with the report, and the review and interpretation. Other component Holter codes include 93225 for the connection of the device and 93226 if your cardiologist reports only the scanning analysis of portion of the test.