Ask Dr. Z

Patient arrived to the hospital's CCL for outpatient procedure. "Procedure: Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE). Reason for test: Abnormal echocardiogram (performed in cardiologist's office). Conscious sedation: IV Fentanyl and Versed. After conscious sedation, TEE probe was placed. Unfortunately, the patient could not tolerate the probe. So, the probe was removed, and the TEE was aborted (no images acquired). Physician then performed a limited (per cardiologist) transthoracic echo (TTE) with contrast study using agitated saline (bubble study) to confirm presence of PFO." Charges submitted were code 93308 for the limited TTE, code J3010 for the Fentanyl, and J2250 for the Versed. Should we add a charge for the cancelled TEE (93312-74)?