Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: Our cardiologist recently performed an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring on a patient with elevated blood pressure. Using the magnetically taped test data and scanning analysis from the ABPM machine (which the office owns), the cardiologist provided his own interpretation and a separate report on the results. Which code should I use for the ABPM?Montana SubscriberAnswer: Because your cardiologist owned the equipment, and he performed the interpretation and report on the test results, you should report 93784 (Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, utilizing a system such as magnetic tape and/or computer disk, for 24 hours or longer; including recording, scanning analysis, interpretation and report).Also, link 796.2 (Elevated blood pressure reading without diagnosis of hypertension) to 93784 to prove medical necessity for the test.Sometimes, the cardiologist does not perform all portions of the ABPM listed in the 93784 descriptor. When this occurs, choose one of the following codes based on your internist's involvement:• 93786 -- ... recording only • 93788 -- ... scanning analysis with report • 93790 -- ... physician review with interpretation-and report.