Advanced Search

Cardiology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

99360 Doesn't Merit Medicare Pay

Published on Thu Apr 14, 2011

Question: My doctors stand by for the cardiologists during a pacemaker placement in case they need to place epicardial leads. They want to code for their time, and I have found code 99360 for this. Do they need to dictate something in order for me to charge for this?Florida SubscriberAnswer: CMS and many other payers don't pay for 99360 (Physician standby service, requiring prolonged physician attendance [face-to face] without direct patient contact, each 30 minutes [e.g., operative standby, standby for frozen section, for cesarean/high risk delivery, for monitoring EEG]), so the physician may not be able to charge for standby time.If a third party payer does reimburse for 99360, then be sure the physician has documented the standby service with something such as: I was requested by [DOCTOR'S NAME] to be on standby for the pacemaker implant performed on [PATIENT'S NAME] on [DATE]. I arrived at the operating room at [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Cardiology Coding Alert

View All