9
Q: What information is needed in order to bill for a remote or
in-person
pacemaker interrogation
evaluation?
In order to bill for a pacemaker interrogation evaluation
(i.e., 93288, 93294 and 93296), stored and measured information
on the programmed parameters, lead(s) when present, battery,
capture and sensing function(s) when present and heart rhythm
must be evaluated. Therefore, a report showing this information
as well any notes that describe the procedure should be
documented in the patient's medical record.
Q: What information is needed in order to bill for an in-person
pacemaker programming
evaluation (CPT codes 93279-
93281)?
In order to bill for a pacemaker programming evaluation
(i.e., 93279-93281), stored and measured information on
the programmed parameters, lead(s) when present, battery,
capture and sensing function(s) when present, and heart
rhythm must be evaluated. Often, but not always, the sensor
rate response, lower and upper heart rates, AV intervals,
pacing voltage, and pulse duration, sensing value and
diagnostics will be adjusted during a programming evaluation.
Therefore, a report showing this information as well any notes
that describe the procedure should be documented in the
patient's medical record.
Q: What information is needed in order to bill for a remote or in-
person
ICD interrogation
evaluation (CPT code 93289, 93295
and 93296)?
In order to bill for an ICD device interrogation (i.e., 93289,
93295 and 93296), stored and measured information regarding
the programmed parameters, lead(s) when present, battery,
capture and sensing function(s) when present, presence or
absence of therapy for ventricular tachyarrhythmias and the
patient’s underlying heart rhythm must be evaluated. Therefore,
a reporting showing this information as well as any notes that
describe the procedure should be documented in the patient's
medical record.
Q: What information is needed in order to bill for a remote or
in-person
ICD programming
evaluation (CPT codes 93282-
93284)?
In order to bill for an ICD programming evaluation
(i.e., 93282 -93284), stored and measured information
regarding the programmed parameters, lead(s) when
present, battery, capture and sensing function(s) when
present, presence or absence of therapy for ventricular
tachyarrhythmias and the patient’s underlying heart rhythm
must be evaluated. Often, but not always, the sensor rate
response, lower and upper heart rates, AV intervals, pacing
voltage and pulse duration, sensing value, and diagnostics
will be adjusted during a programming evaluation. In
addition, ventricular tachycardia detection and therapies are
sometimes altered depending on the interrogated data and
the patient’s rhythm, symptoms, and condition. Therefore,
a report showing this information as well any notes that
describe the procedure should be documented in the patient's
medical record.
USE OF DEVICE REPRESENTATIVES
Q: Can a physician bill for the
technical
service of a remote
or in-person device evaluation if a device manufacturer
representative completes the entire service?
No, physicians would only bill for the professional component
of the service by appending a -26 modifier to the procedure
code. In order to bill Medicare for the technical service of a
procedure, physicians must either perform the procedure
or appropriately supervise qualified staff who complete the
procedure. In general, in-person device evaluations (CPT
codes 93279-84, 93288-90) require "direct supervision"
and remote device evaluations (CPT codes 93296, 93299)
require "general supervision" by a physician. According to
CMS claims processing guidelines, however, "supervision
requirements for physician billing is
not
met when the test
is administered by supplier personnel regardless of whether
the test is administered at the physician's office or at another
location". Providers should contact their local Medicare MAC
or other expert sources for additional clarification as needed.
OWNERSHIP OF EQUIPMENT
Q: Can a physician bill for the
technical
service of a pacemaker
or ICD device evaluation if the physician or facility does not
own the device interrogation and programming equipment?
Yes. The ownership of the device monitoring and programming
equipment is not the determining factor for deciding whether or
not a physician can bill for the technical service.
PATIENT EVALUATIONS
Q: Can a physician bill for a patient evaluation that occurs on the
same day as an in-person device evaluation?
Physicians may only bill for a patient evaluation (i.e., Evaluation
and Management procedure) on
the same
day as an in-person
device evaluation if the patient has symptoms that require
a distinct clinical assessment above and beyond the device
evaluation. A -25 modifier must be appended to the E/M
procedure code to identify the procedure as a significant and
separately identifiable service. Separate documentation of the
procedure must be included in the patient’s medical record.
PATIENT DIAGNOSIS CODES
Q: What ICD-10-CM
1
patient diagnosis code(s) should be used
for pacemaker and ICD device evaluations?
The following diagnosis codes are commonly used when a patient
does not have any symptoms or device complications:
Z95.0 Presence of cardiac pacemaker; Z95.810 Presence of
automatic (implantable) cardiac defibrillator; Z45.010 Encounter
for checking and testing of cardiac pacemaker pulse generator
[battery], Z45.018 Encounter for adjustment and management
of other part of cardiac pacemaker, or Z45.02 Encounter for
adjustment and management of automatic implantable cardiac
defibrillator. In general, codes Z95.0 and Z95.810 are used for
periodic, routine remote, and in-person device monitoring
evaluation, and Z45.010, Z45.018 and Z45.02 are used when the
device is reprogrammed or other adjustments are necessary.
If the patient has symptoms or a device complication, the
appropriate diagnosis code(s) that describes these conditions
should be used.
1
International Classification of Diseases, 10
th
Revision, Clinical Modification