Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: When using code 93508-26, should I use 93556 as well?


Vermont Subscriber


Answer: You'll usually use 93508-26 (Catheter placement in coronary artery[s], arterial coronary conduit[s], and/or venous coronary bypass graft[s] for coronary angiography without concomitant left heart catheterization; professional component) to evaluate the coronary arteries along with:

• 93545 ...quot; Injection procedure during cardiac catheterization; for selective coronary angiography (injection of radiopaque material may be by hand)

• 93556-26 ...quot; Imaging supervision, interpretation and report for injection procedure(s) during cardiac catheterization; pulmonary angiography, aortography, and/or selective coronary angiography including venous bypass grafts and arterial conduits (whether native or used in bypass); professional component.

You'll also likely see 93539 (Injection procedure during cardiac catheterization; for selective opacification of arterial conduits [e.g., internal mammary], whether native or used for bypass) and 93540 (... for selective opacification of aortocoronary venous bypass grafts, one or more coronary arteries) included with this code combination.

Keep in mind: These are three separate services, so make sure your cardiologist documents each one. 

What to look for: Your cardiologist documents 93508 as catheter placement in the coronary arteries and/or bypass conduits. You'll see 93545 as the injection of a contrast agent into the native coronary arteries catheterized. Code 93539 is an injection into any arterial bypass conduits. Code 93540 is an injection into any venous bypass grafts catheterized, and code 93556-26 is the radiological supervision and interpretation of any of these injection services. 

Note: You can only report each of these codes (injection and S&I) one time per operative session.