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Cardiology Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Consider Cardioversion and ECG

Published on Tue Aug 07, 2012

Question: Is it ever possible to report an ECG after elective cardioversion, or is the ECG always included?Illinois SubscriberAnswer: According to CPT® Assistant (January 2012) you may report additional studies when documentation supports medical necessity: "In certain cases a post-cardioversion ECG is performed to diagnose unexpected arrhythmias after cardioversion or to define ST wave changes. Medical record documentation should reflect this eventuality."Keep in mind: "Any electrocardiogram (ECG) performed prior to or during cardioversion is included in CPT® code 92960, Cardioversion, elective, electrical conversion of arrhythmia; external," CPT® Assistant states. Ask yourself: Was the physician still present when the new indication occurred after the initial service was performed? Was the initial post-cardioversion ECG done to confirm whether the cardioversion was successful? If so, experts recommend including those ECGs in 92960. Sometimes before the physician disburses a patient (during the same session), the patient converts back to an abnormal rhythm. When this [...]
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