AHA Coding Clinic® for HCPCS - 2007 Issue 4; FOR your INFORMATION
New HCPCS Level II codes for echocardiograms with contrast
OPPS FINAL RULE The following information was posted in the November 27, 2007, Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) final rule at www.cms.gov. New HCPCS Level II codes for echocardiograms with contrast For CY 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) created 8 new HCPCS Level II codes to capture transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiographs performed with contrast. Hospitals that perform echocardiograms without contrast should continue to use the existing Level I CPT codes (93303-93350) for these services. CMS will provide further instruction regarding the reporting of echocardiograms with and without contrast in their January 2007 OPPS...
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Article Overview
This article explains a CMS outpatient payment update that added new HCPCS Level II echocardiography codes for contrast-based cardiac ultrasound services. It is relevant to hospital coders, cardiovascular imaging staff, and revenue cycle teams that follow OPPS guidance and HCPCS/CPT reporting distinctions. The article also notes the relationship to existing CPT echocardiography codes and points readers to the listed new HCPCS code set for the detailed descriptors.
Why This Topic Matters
Accurate awareness of HCPCS Level II code updates is important for correct hospital reporting under OPPS and for distinguishing new contrast echocardiography services from established CPT-based echocardiography coding. The article helps readers identify the code families involved and understand that CMS issued further reporting guidance.
What You Will Learn
- How CMS updated outpatient payment guidance related to echocardiography coding
- Which code sets are involved in contrast and non-contrast echocardiogram reporting
- The scope of the new hospital reporting codes introduced for cardiac ultrasound services
- Where the article situates the code update within an OPPS final rule context
Who Should Read This
- Hospital outpatient coders
- Cardiology billing staff
- Revenue cycle specialists
- Compliance teams
- Health information management professionals
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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