Reader Question:
00537 Works for NIPS
Published on Thu Aug 09, 2007
Question: What are the surgical and anesthesia codes for NIPS?
Illinois Subscriber
Answer: "NIPS" stands for noninvasive programmed (heart) stimulation test. The surgical code is 93642 (Electrophysiologic evaluation of single or dual chamber pacing cardioverter-defibrillator [includes defibrillation threshold evaluation, induction of arrhythmia, evaluation of sensing and pacing for arrhythmia termination, and programming or reprogramming of sensing or therapeutic parameters]). It crosses to anesthesia code 00537 (Anesthesia for cardiac electrophysiologic procedures including radiofrequency ablation).
What it is: Hospitals periodically perform this procedure on an outpatient basis. While the patient is under anesthesia, the physician places her heart in arrhythmia to see if the defibrillator shocks her heart back into normal rhythm. Physicians conduct the test to verify that all the components are connected and functioning correctly.
