S29.8XXA — Other specified injuries of thorax, initial encounter
ICD-10-CM
Prior Authorization
No Prior Auth Required
Code is covered without prior authorization (high confidence)
Documentation Required
- This billing/coding guideline complements LCD L33459 (Computerized Axial Tomography (CT), Thorax); follow the LCD for clinical coverage and any required documentation or prior authorization rules.
- When a limited or follow-up echocardiogram is performed, document the targeted cardiac problem/region and bill using the appropriate CPT code (93308 or 93321).
- If the study is a screening exam, document and bill with the appropriate screening ICD-10 code; document any abnormal findings and use the resulting diagnosis for subsequent billing when applicable.
- Document use of ultrasound contrast enhancement and its supplies separately when billed, and do not submit separate claims for diagnostic injection services integral to the contrast procedure.
Key Coverage Criteria
- Follow-up or limited transthoracic echocardiography performed to evaluate a single specified cardiac problem or region must be billed with CPT 93308.
- Limited Doppler/follow-up echocardiographic studies (for targeted velocity or gradient assessment) should be billed with CPT 93321 (e.g., tricuspid regurgitant velocity to estimate pulmonary artery systolic pressure or sequential transmitral velocity in mitral stenosis).
- Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is covered when the patient's medical record documents medical necessity consistent with the LCD indications for TTE.
- Contrast (contrast-enhanced) echocardiography is covered when conventional echocardiographic studies were inconclusive and contrast enhancement is needed to complete diagnostic evaluation.
- Repeat echocardiographic studies are covered to monitor changes in cardiac structure or function when there is a change in clinical status or when disease progression is suspected.
- Echocardiograms performed as part of the CAMZYOS REMS program are covered when billed with modifier KX and all REMS program requirements are met for patients with NYHA Class II–III obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (I42.1).
11 Active Policies
L33577 — Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)
J06
A56781 — Billing and Coding: Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)
J06
A56625 — Billing and Coding: Echocardiography
A57306 — Billing and Coding: Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)
A57326 — Billing and Coding: Electrocardiograms
Related Codes
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