Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: My cardiologist performed a complete stress test on a submaximal treadmill. They performed continuous electrocardiographic monitoring, supervision, and report. Which CPT^® code should I report for this service? Also, are there any rules about the place of service (POS) where my cardiologist can report 93015?

North Carolina Subscriber

Answer: You should report the global code 93015 (Cardiovascular stress test using maximal or submaximal treadmill or bicycle exercise, continuous electrocardiographic monitoring, and/or pharmacological stress; with supervision, interpretation and report) when your cardiologist performs a complete cardiac stress test service. Code 93015 includes your cardiologist’s supervision of the stress test, the supply of the equipment, tech, and electrocardiogram (ECG) tracing, and the cardiologist’s interpretation and report.

CPT^® does have strict rules about the place of service (POS) where your cardiologist can report 93015. “Because code 93015 includes the technical component, supervision, and interpretation, this code is rightfully reportable only by a physician in a nonfacility setting (eg, office, clinic, or diagnostic testing center),” according to CPT^® Assistant Vol. 20, No. 1.

Don’t miss: If one cardiologist doesn’t perform the complete 93015 service, the various providers involved should report the appropriate component codes from the 93016 (Cardiovascular stress test using maximal or submaximal treadmill or bicycle exercise, continuous electrocardiographic monitoring, and/or pharmacological stress; supervision only, without interpretation and report) through 93018 (... interpretation and report only) range.