Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: Does the cardiologist need to document viewing the pulmonary artery and veins to code a complete 2D transthoracic echo (93307)? Delaware Subscriber Answer: No. But if the cardiologist does visualize the pulmonary vessels, you would include that in the echo code. Support: CPT's "Echocardiography" guidelines require examination of -- or an attempt to examine -- the following for 93307 (Echocardiography, transthoracic, real-time with image documentation [2D], includes Mmode recording, when performed, complete, without spectral or Doppler echocardiography): • left and right atria • left and right ventricles • aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valves • pericardium • adjacent portions of aorta. The service involves using a transducer to bounce sound waves off of heart structures to create a visual image for interpretation. A complete study requires multiple views and the clinician should record appropriate measurements. If the clinician attempts to identify and measure all of the bulleted items above but can't, he [...]