tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2002 Issue 3

Take Heart: Rhythm Strips May be Paid in Some Cases

Emergency department (ED) physicians often review and interpret rhythm strips on patients with cardiac symptoms. Nonetheless, claims for these legitimate services are often denied by Medicare and private payers because rhythm strips are a component of a more comprehensive 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), which is typically read by cardiologists. When both physicians attempt to receive reimbursement for services rendered to the same patient on the same date, the ED physician charges usually go unpaid. In fact, the Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) has implemented an edit prohibiting codes describing these services from being reported together during the care of...

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