Ask Dr. Z

One of our doctors marked his rounding with VT ablation (93654) and another arrhythmia (93655) for the second PVC that he treated. The doctor describes these as two entirely discrete PVCs but he was aware of them from a prior outpatient study. When code 93655 was introduced we were taught that the doctor could not be aware of the arrhythmia prior to the procedure..that the other arrhythmia had to emerge during the procedure in order to get credit for the 93655. Is that correct? Should we give him the 93654 only for treating both PVC's or should he get the 93654 and 93655? The doctor also states that the source of the PVCs would be the mid LV and that PVC1 was spontaneous and that PVC2 was triggered and that Isoproterenol was infused to facilitate increased frequency of PVCs.