Cardiology Coding: Keep Pace With 2010 Cpt Category III Codes
Come January 2010 and CPT will witness a sea of changes. As such, you’ll need to brace up for new-for-2010 category III codes aimed at diagnosing coronary artery disease.
One of the new Category III codes coming up in January is 0206T, which is apt for Multifunction Cardiogram (MCG). The MCG uses a mathematical approach to diagnose heart disease.
The MCG system uses two leads. You may go for a 12-lead ECG separately when performed. Choose from 93000-93010 (electrocardiogram, routine ECG with at least 12 leads…)
2010 CPT also adds +0205T, which describes a comparatively new technology such as InfraReDx (which physicians may use to identify lipid or cholesterol deposits in the vessel wall). This code is an add-on code, meaning you may not report it alone. A note instructs you to report it alongside the following codes as appropriate – 92980, 92982, 92995, 93508-93533.
But keep in mind that Category III codes describe emerging technologies. As such, a typical practice might not use the devices these new codes describe. But you need to keep pace with available category III codes.
As per CPT guidelines, if CPT offers a Category III code for a particular service, you must go for that code instead of a Category I unlisted code.
To stay up to date with the CPT code changes and learn more about cardiology coding and other Category III CPT codes, you can tune in to cardiology conferences and go home enriched.
In fact, there’s a cardiology coding conference taking place in Orlando, FL this December which is a must-attend if you are to keep pace with the ensuing CPT changes.
