Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: Code 93619s descriptor states, without induction or attempted induction. Does this mean without induction, without attempted induction or does it mean without induction or with attempted induction that fails?

Connecticut Subscriber

Answer: Code 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) is appropriate when the cardiologist does not attempt to induce arrhythmia.

Helpful: When CPT first added attempted induction to the descriptors for 93619 and 93620- +93622 (Comprehensive electrophysiologic evaluation including insertion and repositioning of multiple electrode catheters with induction or attempted induction of arrhythmia &), AMAs CPT Assistant explained that the intent of these codes is to separate comprehensive electrophysiologic studies, in which arrhythmia induction is not attempted, from studies in which it is attempted. The additional physician work in code 93620 is due to the attempt to induce an arrhythmia, not in achieving that arrhythmia.