ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Question: Should we charge for contemporaneous EKG readings? If so, what CPT code should we report?


Connecticut Subscriber

Answer: If the emergency department physician is doing the interpretation and writing a report, you should report 93010 (Electrocardiogram, routine ECG with at least 12 leads; interpretation and report only). If your payers aren't reimbursing for this code and you have solid documentation of the work, appeal.

Hint: You don't need to report this code with modifier 26 (Professional component), because 93010 assumes the professional component only.