Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: If the cardiologist tries to induce arrhythmia but fails, should we report 93619 or 93620?

North Carolina Subscriber

Answer: The correct code is 93620 (Comprehensive electrophysiologic evaluation including insertion and repositioning of multiple electrode catheters with induction or attempted induction of arrhythmia; with right atrial pacing and recording, right ventricular pacing and recording, His bundle recording).

Note the descriptor for this code specifies it's "with induction or attempted induction of arrhythmia."

On the other hand, 93619 (Comprehensive electrophysiologic evaluation with right atrial pacing and recording, right ventricular pacing and recording, His bundle recording, including insertion and repositioning of multiple electrode catheters, without induction or attempted induction of arrhythmia) indicates that it's to be used in cases "without induction or attempted induction."

Takeaway: If the cardiologist makes any attempt at induction, whether it was successful or not, you should report 93620. On the other hand, if the cardiologist makes no attempt at induction, you would report 93619.

Caution: If you need to report the professional component of the evaluation only, you should append modifier 26 (Professional component) to 93619 and 93620.