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Cardiology Coding Alert

Case Study:

Crack Down on a Top Heart-Cath Coding Snafu

Published on Tue May 05, 2009

1 simple 'cross the aorta' rule keeps 93510 denials at bay. Matching "left heart catheterization" to 93510 (Left heart catheterization ...) may seem like an easy day's work. But not so fast. The cardiologist must meet and document a crucial left ventricle requirement for you to choose this code. Work your way through this case study to see if 93510 belongs on the claim. Test Yourself With Facility-Based Example Get started: Assume that the sample case below took place in a facility that will report the technical component, and you are reporting only the professional component. Remember to append modifier 26 (Professional component) to codes that have a professional and technical component, says Heather R. Stecker, CPC, ACS-CA, compliance director and reimbursement manager for Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia. That way the payer knows you are asking for reimbursement of physician services only. Procedure: Left heart catheterization, bilateral selective coronary arteriography, [...]
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