Title: Medical Billing for Cardioversion
1(No Transcript)
2Medical Billing for Cardioversion
Basics of Cardioversion Cardioversion is a
medical procedure by which an abnormally fast
heart rate (tachycardia) or other cardiac
arrhythmia is converted to a normal rhythm using
electricity or drugs. For medical billing
purposes, cardioversion has been coded as an
external and internal procedure. CPT codes 92960
(cardioversion, elective, electrical conversion
of arrhythmia external) and 92961
(cardioversion, elective, electrical conversion
of arrhythmia internal separate procedure) are
used to report cardioversion. As the CPT code
description mentions, code 92960 specifically
describes elective i.e., non-emergency external
electrical cardioversion while CPT code 92961 is
used to report the internal cardioversion. To get
accurately reimbursed lets understand medical
billing for cardioversion. External
Cardioversion Elective or external cardioversion
is most often used to treat atrial fibrillation
and atrial flutter if anti-arrhythmic drugs fail
to convert the heart back to normal sinus rhythm,
or if the patient is hemodynamically unstable.
The electric shock given in cardioversion is
synchronized i.e., timed to occur during the R
wave of the electrocardiogram. The patient will
have his rhythm monitored for several hours after
the procedure to ensure the rhythm remains stable.
3Medical Billing for Cardioversion
- Internal Cardioversion
- Internal cardioversion is most commonly used to
convert atrial fibrillation to normal sinus
rhythm when external cardioversion is
unsuccessful. Internal cardioversion requires
vascular access, placement of catheters into the
heart under fluoroscopic guidance, and much
greater knowledge of electrophysiology
procedures. - Medical Billing for Cardioversion
- CPT code 92960 (elective cardioversion) should be
reported as an isolated procedure and not in the
context of critical care or when it is an
integral part of a procedure such as an
electrophysiology study or coronary artery
bypass. - There is a specific CPT code, 92960, for
cardioversions. There are no separate codes or
modifiers for using paddles or hands-free, and
there are no special codes or modifiers for
biphasic cardioversion. CPT code 92960 is for an
elective cardioversion, not defibrillation. There
is no separate code for defibrillation.
Defibrillation is incorporated into CPR, which
has its own CPT code (92950). Therefore, it is
important to use the correct terminology in your
charting to demonstrate you are cardioverting the
patient and not defibrillating the patient.
4Medical Billing for Cardioversion
- To charge 92960 the cardiologist must have
informed consent from the patient he or she must
discuss the risks and get a signed consent form
before performing elective cardioversion. For
example, a patient with myocardial infarction and
atrial fibrillation comes in for a cardiac cath.
The cardiologist explained that the cath and the
cardioversion would be performed during the same
session. The patient agreed and signed the
consent form. Therefore, the 92960 could be
billed. - There is no CPT code to report emergency cardiac
defibrillation. It is included in cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPT code 92950). If emergency
cardiac defibrillation without cardiopulmonary
resuscitation is performed in the emergency
department or critical/intensive care unit, the
cardiac defibrillation service is not separately
reportable. Providers/suppliers shall not report
CPT code 92960 for emergency cardiac
defibrillation. CPT code 92960 describes a
planned elective procedure. If a planned elective
external cardioversion is performed by a
provider/supplier reporting critical care time
(CPT codes 99291, and 99292), the time to perform
the elective external cardioversion shall not be
included in the critical care time. - Since cardioversion includes interrogation and
programming of an implantable defibrillator if
performed, interrogation and programming of an
implantable defibrillator system (e.g., CPT codes
93282-93284, 93289, 93292, and 93295) shall not
be reported separately with a cardioversion
procedure (e.g., CPT codes 92960, 92961).
5Medical Billing for Cardioversion
- CPT code 92961 is not separately reportable with
cardiac catheterization or percutaneous cardiac
interventional procedure. CPT code 92961 is
defined as a separate procedure,
and CMS payment policy does not allow separate
payment for a separate procedure performed with
another procedure in an anatomically related
region through similar access. Internal
cardioversion, like a cardiac catheterization or
a percutaneous cardiac interventional procedure,
is performed using similar percutaneous vascular
access and placement of one or more catheters
into the heart under fluoroscopy. CPT codes for
percutaneous vascular access, radiopaque dye
injections, and fluoroscopic guidance shall not
be reported separately. - Cardiac catheterization, percutaneous coronary
artery interventional procedures (angioplasty,
atherectomy, or stenting), and internal
cardioversion include insertion of a needle
and/or catheter, infusion, fluoroscopy, and ECG
rhythm strips (e.g., CPT codes 36000, 36140,
36160, 36200-36248, 36410, 96360-96376, 76000,
93040-93042). All these services are components
of cardiac catheterization, percutaneous coronary
artery interventional procedure, or internal
cardioversion and are not separately reportable.
Additionally, ultrasound guidance is not
separately reportable with these procedures. - Medical Billers and Coders (MBC) is a leading
medical billing company providing complete
revenue cycle management services. We shared
medical billing for cardioversion so that
providers will get accurately reimbursed for
delivered services.
6Medical Billing for Cardioversion
We referred various source materials along with
the Medicare coding manual to discuss medical
billing for cardioversion in detail. If you need
any assistance in medical billing and coding for
your practice, email us at info_at_medicalbillersand
coders.com or call us at 888-357-3226. CPT
Copyright 2022 American Medical
Association Reference Medicare NCCI 2022 Coding
Policy Manual Chapter 11