Devise an EPS Coding System
Published on Tue Apr 01, 2003
Deciphering complex comprehensive EPS reports can be challenging, but the process can be made more manageable if you take the time to communicate with electrophysiologists, coding experts stress.
"If coders do not have the cooperation of the physicians and do not develop a system for interpreting what is done, then they will have difficulties," says Rebecca Sanzone, CPC, billing manager for Midatlantic Cardiovascular Associates of Baltimore.
Rather than giving technical data such as voltages used, electrophysiologists should be encouraged to emphasize such details as the number of catheters they used and where they placed these catheters, says Sandy Fuller, CPC, a cardiology coding and reimbursement specialist in Abilene, Texas.
Sanzone suggests meeting with electrophysiologists to devise a system to simplify coding EPS reports and offers the following example from her practice:
If the physician indicates a straightforward EPS, report 93620 only.
If the physician indicates a diagnosis of Wolf Parkinson White (WPW) syndrome and writes "WPW EPS" in the report, bill 93620 and add 93621.
If the report indicates that the patient has ventricular tachycardia (VT), bill 93620 and add 93622.
If the report states that the patient has a drug infusion, add 93623 to 93620.
You can bill four codes for one comprehensive EPS procedure as long as the documentation supports this, Sanzone says. Coding guides published by the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology (NASPE) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) are good resources to have on hand for understanding EPS reports, Fuller says. Note: To order NASPE's coding guide, call NASPE at (508) 647-0100. To order the ACC's coding guide, contact the ACC at (800) 253-4636.
