Radiology Coding Alert

Question: Our physician performed an office-based echo. The primary code we are submitting is 93351. Our physician has not documented the spectral display. Can we submit code 93325 for color flow without code 93320 for spectral? Which codes will make the best combination for the echo examination?

Colorado Subscriber

Answer: If your physician has not documented the spectral display, you may not submit code +93320 (Doppler echocardiography, pulsed wave and/or continuous wave with spectral display [List separately in addition to codes for echocardiographic imaging]; complete). Both color flow and spectral display are important components of a complete echo. Yet it is good to submit codes for what has been documented.

You may consider the following codes:

• 93351, Echocardiography, transthoracic, real-time with image documentation (2D), includes M-mode recording, when performed, during rest and cardiovascular stress test using treadmill, bicycle exercise and/or pharmacologically induced stress, with interpretation and report; including performance of continuous electrocardiographic monitoring, with supervision by a physician or other qualified health care professional
• +93325, Doppler echocardiography color flow velocity mapping (List separately in addition to codes for echocardiography).

Note: Both codes accept modifier 26 (Professional component), but because you state that the services are office-based, you should not append modifier 26 to either code.