AH216 Week 5 Discussion
Cardiology Surgery vs Medicine
The Medicine
chapter of CPT has a subsection on cardiovascular. CPT codes 992920-93799.
Surgical CPT has a
subsection on cardiovascular. CPT codes 33010-37799.
Explain why that
is. (HINT: Non-invasive vs. Invasive) How are you going to remember this
when you begin coding for a cardiologist?
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: The differentiation between cardiology surgery and medicine is important in the medical field, especially when it comes to coding and billing procedures. In this assignment, we will discuss why there are separate CPT codes for cardiovascular procedures in medicine and surgical fields.
Answer: The reason for having separate CPT codes for cardiovascular procedures in medicine and surgical fields is due to the non-invasive vs. invasive nature of the procedures. Medical cardiology procedures usually involve non-invasive diagnostic processes, such as electrocardiograms and echocardiograms, which do not entail making incisions in the body. On the other hand, surgical cardiology procedures involve invasive interventions, such as heart surgeries, which require cutting into the body.
To remember this when coding for a cardiologist, it is important to keep in mind the procedures being performed. If it involves any form of incision, the relevant surgical CPT codes should be used. However, if the procedure does not require any incision, the medical CPT codes should be utilized. It is essential to have a good understanding of the procedures being performed to maintain accuracy and prevent fraudulent behavior when billing the patients or the insurance companies.
