kevbshields
Guest
This is creating contoversy for some of us . . .
We have external (OP) coders validating OP encounters for my facility. However, the problem is that these folks take the report title, which usually reads, "coronary angiography" and tack on code 93508.
The issue that I (and my colleagues) have with this is that a heart cath is being performed . . . a different terminology is just being used than what these other coders are accustomed to. Point being, in each of the cases we have identified, the Interventional Cardiologist states and clearly documents that ventriculography was performed.
Correct me if I'm wrong here, but in order to perform ventriculography, you've got to inject dye into the ventricle(s). And, if you're accessing/injecting the ventricles, you've done a heart cath (see page 393 of the Professional Edition of CPT-4 2007 for further specifics on 93508). If that is the case, that ventriculography requires accessing the ventricle(s), then 93508 cannot be correct and we need to educate them on this issue.
Any assistance would be appreciated. We've a consensus at my facility, I just want to hear some outside voices (in case I need them).
Thanks!
We have external (OP) coders validating OP encounters for my facility. However, the problem is that these folks take the report title, which usually reads, "coronary angiography" and tack on code 93508.
The issue that I (and my colleagues) have with this is that a heart cath is being performed . . . a different terminology is just being used than what these other coders are accustomed to. Point being, in each of the cases we have identified, the Interventional Cardiologist states and clearly documents that ventriculography was performed.
Correct me if I'm wrong here, but in order to perform ventriculography, you've got to inject dye into the ventricle(s). And, if you're accessing/injecting the ventricles, you've done a heart cath (see page 393 of the Professional Edition of CPT-4 2007 for further specifics on 93508). If that is the case, that ventriculography requires accessing the ventricle(s), then 93508 cannot be correct and we need to educate them on this issue.
Any assistance would be appreciated. We've a consensus at my facility, I just want to hear some outside voices (in case I need them).
Thanks!