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Cardiology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Report E/M for Procainamide Challenge Studies

Published on Tue Sep 30, 2003

Question: Which code should we use for a procainamide challenge study? Our cardiologist used this study to rule out Brugada syndrome for a patient, but I have been unable to locate a CPT code for this procedure.

Kentucky Subscriber Answer: If the physician performs this study in the hospital, you would not need a procedure code because it would not be separately billable. The test you describe is an IV infusion along with electrocardiogram monitoring. Most likely, you would include the testing service as a part of any E/M services provided to the patient on that day - for example, an inpatient consultation (99251-99255.) You could report the ECG interpretation and report (93010) separately if the cardiologist generates a report.
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