Billing and Coding: Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Angiography

This article gives guidance for billing, coding, and other guidelines in
relation to local coverage policy L33959 Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary
Angiography.

**General Guidelines for Claims submitted to Part A or Part B MAC:**

Procedure codes may be subject to National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI)
edits or OPPS packaging edits. Refer to NCCI and OPPS requirements prior to
billing Medicare. For services requiring a referring/ordering physician, the
name and NPI of the referring/ordering physician must be reported on the
claim. A claim submitted without a valid ICD-10-CM diagnosis code will be
returned to the provider as an incomplete claim under Section 1833(e) of the
Social Security Act. The diagnosis code(s) must best describe the patient's
condition for which the service was performed. For diagnostic tests, report
the result of the test if known; otherwise the symptoms prompting the
performance of the test should be reported.

**Advance Beneficiary Notice of Non-coverage (ABN) Modifier Guidelines**

An ABN may be used for services which are likely to be non-covered, whether
for medical necessity or for other reasons. Refer to CMS Publication 100-04,
Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 30, for complete instructions.

Effective from April 1, 2010, non-covered services should be billed with
modifier -GA, -GX, -GY, or -GZ, as appropriate.

The -GA modifier ("Waiver of Liability Statement Issued as Required by Payer
Policy") should be used when physicians, practitioners, or suppliers want to
indicate that they anticipate that Medicare will deny a specific service as
not reasonable and necessary and they do have an ABN signed by the beneficiary
on file. Modifier GA applies only when services will be denied under
reasonable and necessary provisions, sections 1862(a)(1), 1862(a)(9), 1879(e),
or 1879(g) of the Social Security Act. Effective April 1, 2010, Part A MAC
systems will automatically deny services billed with modifier GA. An ABN, Form
CMS-R-131, should be signed by the beneficiary to indicate that he/she accepts
responsibility for payment. The -GA modifier may also be used on assigned
claims when a patient refuses to sign the ABN and the latter is properly
witnessed. For claims submitted to the Part A MAC, occurrence code 32 and the
date of the ABN is required.



Modifier GX ("Notice of Liability Issued, Voluntary Under Payer Policy")
should be used when the beneficiary has signed an ABN, and a denial is
anticipated based on provisions other than medical necessity, such as
statutory exclusions of coverage or technical issues. An ABN is not required
for these denials, but if non-covered services are reported with modifier GX,
will automatically be denied services.



The -GZ modifier should be used when physicians, practitioners, or suppliers
want to indicate that they expect that Medicare will deny an item or service
as not reasonable and necessary and they have not had an ABN signed by the
beneficiary. If the service is statutorily non-covered, or without a benefit
category, submit the appropriate CPT/HCPCS code with the -GY modifier. An ABN
is not required for these denials, and the limitation of liability does not
apply for beneficiaries. Services with modifier GY will automatically deny.

**Documentation Requirements**

The patient's medical record should include but is not limited to:

  * The assessment of the patient by the ordering provider as it relates to the complaint of the patient for that visit,
  * Relevant medical history
  * Results of pertinent tests/procedures
  * Signed and dated office visit record/operative report (Please note that all services ordered or rendered to Medicare beneficiaries must be signed.)

**_Other Comments_** :  
  
For claims submitted to the Part A MAC: this coverage determination also
applies within states outside the primary geographic jurisdiction with
facilities that have nominated CGS to process their claims.  
  
  
Limitation of liability and refund requirements apply when denials are likely,
whether based on medical necessity or other coverage reasons. The
provider/supplier must notify the beneficiary in writing, prior to rendering
the service, if the provider/supplier is aware that the test, item or
procedure may not be covered by Medicare. The limitation of liability and
refund requirements do not apply when the test, item or procedure is
statutorily excluded, has no Medicare benefit category or is rendered for
screening purposes



**Associated Information:**

1\. Each claim must be submitted with ICD-10-CM codes that reflect the
condition of the patient, and indicate the reason(s) for which the service was
performed.  
2\. The patient's medical record should contain documentation that fully
supports the medical necessity for cardiac catheterization and coronary
angiography as it is covered by Medicare. This documentation includes, but is
not limited to, relevant medical history, physical examination and results of
pertinent diagnostic tests or procedures.  
3\. The medical record should contain a formal procedure report and
interpretation for each procedure performed.  
4\. The record must include documentation of the medical decision making when
interventional procedures are not performed during the same session as the
diagnostic procedures.  
5\. The medical record must include documentation of the medical necessity for
each procedure when multiple catheterization and angiographic procedures are
performed during the same session.  
6\. The medical record must include an interpretation and report of all
angiograms. Imaging for each angiographic procedure (film, video or digital)
must be retained in the medical record and be available for review by the
Medicare contractor.  
7\. The medical record must include documentation of request for extra-cardiac
angiography from the referring/ordering provider treating the patient.  
8\. Medical records must be made available to Medicare upon request.  
  
  
Not applicable  
  
Diagnostic coronary angiography may not be billed when performed during
percutaneous coronary intervention, if it has been previously performed within
the past six months resulting in the decision for the beneficiary to undergo
the specific interventional procedure