Wiki any cardio coders in the KCMO area??

[4777clee]

Need some clarification from any cardio coders out there please. We have always billed the 93350 and the 93018 for echos done in the hospital where our physician is reading the report. We bill 93351 for the clinic where our staff is monitoring. My supervisor is saying she thinks that it does not depend on the location, and that we should bill 93351 for hospital as well, as long as we add the 26 modifier. If you read the CMS guidlines it can be interpreted either way. Again, we have always been told it depends on the location and to me that is what the CPT codes read. Any clarification would help please. Thanks

 

[Misty Dawn]

Hi,

93351- Stress echocardiogram with complete cardiovascular stress test (93015 included in 93351).
93351, 26- Professional Components of a complete stress test and a stress echocardiogram are provided by the same physician or other qualified health care professional. (For example: if Dr. Smith did complete stress echo but does not own the equipment then code 93351-26 {93350,26; 93016 and 93018 are the unbundled codes})
93350, 26- When not all the professional components are performed by the same physician. (For example Dr. Smith performed interp and report only 93350-26 and 93018 but Dr. Jones supervised only the stress 93016.)