Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: My cardiologist documented that he applied an electrocardiographic (ECG) recorder to the patient, who wore the recorder for five days, to help detect abnormal heart rates and rhythms. My cardiologist performed the recording, scanning analysis with report, and review and report. My colleague insists that we should report Holter monitor code 93224 (External electrocardiographic recording up to 48 hours by continuous rhythm recording and storage; includes recording, scanning analysis with report, review and interpretation by a physician or other qualified health care professional) on the claim, but I don’t think that’s the correct choice. Can you settle our debate?

North Carolina Subscriber

Answer: You are correct on this one. External ECG recording code 93241 (External electrocardiographic recording for more than 48 hours up to 7 days by continuous rhythm recording and storage; includes recording, scanning analysis with report, review and interpretation) is the code you should report on your claim, not Holter monitor code 93224.

Here, the key documentation detail is time. Your cardiologist performed the external ECG recording for five days. Code 93241 is the correct option for an ECG recording time period of 48 hours up to seven days. You should only report Holter monitor code 93224 for a time period of 48 hours.

Don’t miss: Code 93241 is the global code you should report if your cardiologist reports all of the parts of the service including the recording, scanning analysis with report, and the review and interpretation.