Ask Dr. Z

Follow Up to Question ID #5966, it states: ‘A caveat would be if two physicians are in same group and use same billing number then code as usual, as add-on code 93571 would be okay with the heart cath.’ Can you further clarify what is meant by ‘code as usual’? Do you mean first physician can code and bill add-on code since second physician is in the same group even though first physician didn’t perform add-on procedure? CPT manual, p. xiv outlines: “The add-on code concept in CPT 2014 applies only to add-on procedures or services performed by the same physician. Add-on codes describe additional intra-service work associated with the primary procedure…Add-on codes are always performed in addition to the primary procedure and must never be reported as stand-alone code.” CMS 1/1/14 policy outlines the same principal. Also, if FFR/IVUS is performed on same day as heart cath but by two physicians in different groups then do you recommend each physician code their part with second physician utilizing unlisted code 93799 to capture the stand alone px of FFR/IVUS.