Cardiology Coding Alert

These services may get their own set of Category I codes in 2013.Practices performing transthoracic aortic valve replacement (TAVR) have some work to do to see if they meet Medicare's strict requirements for coverage with evidence development (CED).If you code for an interventional cardiologist who will be involved in TAVR procedures, sometimes called transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), you should review the decision memo at www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/nca-decision-memo.aspx?NCAId=257. The memo goes into detail on requirements such as:The treatment must be aimed at "symptomatic aortic valve stenosis when furnished according to an FDA approved indication" Two cardiac surgeons must independently examine the patient The patient must be under the care of a heart team (meeting specific experience requirements) in a hospital (meeting specific infrastructure and program requirements) An interventional cardiologist and cardiac surgeon must work together intra-operatively The heart team and hospital must participate in a national registry. Plus, the decision memo [...]