Cardiac catheterization is a diagnostic test to examine the heart or coronary vessels or both. There are two sets of codes differentiated by examination for congenital and all other conditions. The corresponding “code map” demonstrates correct coding for noncongenital cardiac catheterizations. Regardless of the target disease cardiac catheterization includes: conscious sedation, introduction, roadmapping angiography, positioning and repositioning, when necessary, of catheters(s), recording of Intracardiac and/or intravascular pressure(s), contrast injection(s), contrast injection of access site(s), closure device placement, imaging supervision, interpretation and report for typical imaging and final evaluation and report of procedure.
The heart is a closed system so separate catheter placements or access across the ventricular septum is necessary to examine the left and right sides. Select the appropriate code for the anatomy examined. Watch for additional services that are not inclusive to basic catheterization, such as: right ventricular or right atrial angiography (+93566).
Physicians providing professional services only will need to append modifier 26 to the catheterization service, but for many associated services represented by an add-on code no modifier is necessary.
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