Compliance Question of the Week – Cardiology

If we perform a left-sided atrial fibrillation (a-fib) ablation (93456) and then, after diagnostic maneuvers, we get an atrial flutter on the right side and ablate that, would code 93655 also be reported?

The patient presents for a diagnostic left heart catheterization (LHC), left ventriculogram and selective coronary angiography. The physician determines that hemodynamic assessment should be performed before and after exercise to assist in the clinical diagnosis. The patient is given a pair of 2.5-pound dumbbell weights then asked to exercise by extending the arms and bringing the arms with the weights to their chest. The patient exercises for three to five minutes. Does this type of exercise meet the criteria for billing code 93464?

The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology recommends nuclear medicine imaging code 78803 or 78800 with A9538 (for PYP) for patients with cardiac amyloidosis. Would either of the 788XX codes above be the correct CPT for this exam?

Can we bill codes 93620 and 93656 (both relate to comprehensive electrophysiologic evaluation) together? Are there any other codes that may be billed with 93656, or is it all encompassing?

I can’t find a specific rule, but I thought that we could code and bill for the insertion of a temporary pacemaker but should not code or bill for the removal of the temporary device. Is this correct?

I have another question about moderate sedation code assignments. The descriptions of codes 99151–99153 indicate 15 minutes of service time. What if there is less than 15 minutes? Can this be billed?

As a follow-up to last week’s question, what codes would be reported for moderate sedation used with TEE?

Do the changes to the moderate sedation guidelines mean that my doctor can now bill for this when he provides it during a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)?

We were told we should bill code 96374 for administration of LUMASON® (sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type A microspheres) for injectable suspension, for intravenous use or intravesical use with echocardiogram with contrast, but we are getting denials for this code. Is there another code we should use?

If non-selective renal angiography is performed at the time of a dagnostic cardiac catheterization, should level ll HCPCS code G0275 be reported? Is this code for hospitals or physician billing? Is this code for Medicare or non-Medicare patients?

What is the intent of code 93463?