Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: Would we report 93293 for an in-person rhythm strip pacemaker evaluation?

California Subscriber

Answer: No. You would report 93293 (Transtelephonic rhythm strip pacemaker evaluation(s) single, dual, or multiple lead pacemaker system, includes recording with and without magnet application with analysis, review and report(s) by a physician or other qualified health care professional, up to 90 days) for a transtelephonic rhythm strip pacemaker evaluation, not an in-person evaluation. Instead, for an in-person evaluation, according to CPT^®, you should report 93040 (Rhythm ECG, 1-3 leads; with interpretation and report); 93041 (…; tracing only without interpretation and report); or93042 (…; interpretation and report only).

93293: When the cardiologist performs a 93293 service, he evaluates the pacemaker by rhythm strip over the telephone. He reviews the pacemaker data and confirms the function of each of the leads, battery, capture, and sensing by transtelephonic monitoring strip once without the magnet and then again with the magnet over the pacemaker. Therefore, he assesses the pacemaker’s function and the time interval to the next analysis, including the review and report of a single, dual, or multiple lead pacemaker system.

Don’t miss: You should report 93293 only once per 90 days. And, you should never report 93293 in conjunction with 93294 (Interrogation device evaluation(s) (remote), up to 90 days; single, dual, or multiple lead pacemaker system with interim analysis, review(s) and report(s) by a physician or other qualified health care professional). In addition, you should never report 93293 if the monitoring period is less than 30 days, per CPT^®.