93016, 93017 & 93018

We have been billing these 3 components 93016, 93017 & 93018 together to Medicare but today we were doing an internal auditing and we think we might have omitted billing 93350. Does anyone have any insight on this? Is this correct?

Thanks in advance.

Feb 29th, 2012 - Codapedia Editor 1,399

re: 93016, 93017 & 93018

What service did you perform? Stress test only? Did you do an echocardiogram?

Why are you breaking apart the components of the stress test? 93016, 93017 and 93018 are the three parts of a stress test: physician supervision, tracing and interpretation and report. If you own the equipment and are performing all three components, use 93015. If you take a look at the descriptions in the CPT® book, I think you'll see this.

Feb 29th, 2012 - gloriajaye 10

re: 93016, 93017 & 93018

I am sorry that I did not give you all the details: The Dr. did a stress test (93015). The reason for breaking apart the components is, we are in NY (downstate), the area that the Dr practices is in a HPSAs (Health Professional Shortage Areas) and every 3 months the Dr gets a bonus check from Medicare for the services provided. We billed this as 93016, 93017 and 93018-26-AQ. I hope this helps.

Thanks.

P.S. Correction -> 93018-26-AQ should read 93018-AQ

Mar 1st, 2012 - Codapedia Editor 1,399

re: 93016, 93017 & 93018

Thanks for the clarification.