Anesthesia Coding Alert
You Be the Coder:
Try Your Hand at Coding for Partial Service
Published on Wed Jul 20, 2005
Question: Our anesthesiologist worked with a surgeon during an epiaortic echocardiogram. The surgeon actually placed the probe on the aorta, but the anesthesiologist performed the interpretation and report. How should we code this service?
Louisiana Subscriber
Answer: The best code is 93307 (Echocardiography, transthoracic, real-time with image documentation [2D] with or without M-mode recording; complete). Append modifier 26 (Professional component) to show that the anesthesiologist does not own the equipment used. Also be sure to submit a written report with the claim to help document each physician's role.
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