Ask Dr. Z

We have a provider who is regularly trying to bill for a repeat left heart cath, sometimes 93458, but often 93452, within a month of a previous heart cath. Most of these patients do not have a change in clinical status but are coming back for a planned intervention. The provider is now adding this statement to try and support this: "Repeat left heart catheterization was done to guide post procedural hydration; however, complete repeat angiography was not performed due to angiography having been performed less than 1 month previously." We have not seen a statement such as this with any of our other providers. Do you have any guidance or requirements for supporting the billing of a repeat heart cath within a week or month of a previous cath? Is guidance for post procedural hydration supported?