2025 CPT code 93246
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Cardiology Procedures - External Electrocardiographic Recording Cardiology Feed
External electrocardiographic recording for more than 7 days up to 15 days using continuous rhythm recording and storage; includes connection and initial recording.
Modifiers may apply based on the circumstances of service.Consult the CPT manual and payer guidelines for applicable modifiers.
Medical necessity for 93246 would be documented by the presence of symptoms suggestive of cardiac arrhythmia (e.g., palpitations, syncope, dizziness), a history of arrhythmia, or the need to monitor the effectiveness of antiarrhythmic therapy.Documentation supporting the need for prolonged monitoring (greater than 7 days) needs to be clearly presented.
The physician or qualified healthcare professional is responsible for ordering the test, applying the device (or delegating this task to qualified staff), ensuring proper device function, and reviewing the findings reported by the analysis center.They interpret the results and make clinical decisions based on the data.
In simple words: The doctor or nurse attaches a small device to your body that records your heart's activity for more than 7 days but less than 15 days. This helps detect any unusual heart rhythms. The code covers attaching the device and starting the recording.
This CPT code encompasses the service of applying an external electrocardiographic (ECG) recorder to a patient for continuous rhythm recording and storage for a duration exceeding 7 days but not exceeding 15 days.The service includes the connection of the device, the initial recording, and the storage of the electrocardiographic data. This code is specifically for the recording service and does not include subsequent analysis, interpretation, or reporting of the data.The device may be a small patch or electrodes attached to the patient's chest connected to a small recorder.The device continuously monitors the heart's electrical activity while the patient engages in normal activities.
Example 1: A patient presents with intermittent palpitations and dizziness. The physician orders a 10-day continuous ECG recording to identify the cause of these symptoms.Code 93246 is used to bill for the application and recording phase of the monitoring. , A patient with a history of atrial fibrillation undergoes a 14-day Holter monitor to assess rhythm control after initiating a new medication. The recording service is billed with code 93246., A patient experiencing unexplained syncope is fitted with a continuous ECG monitoring device for a period of 8 days to capture potential arrhythmias during the episodes.Code 93246 is used for billing.
Physician order specifying the duration of monitoring;Patient demographics;Date and time of device application and removal;Details of the device used;Confirmation of proper device function;Documentation of any patient-reported events during the monitoring period.
** Accurate documentation is essential for proper reimbursement.Always cross-reference with payer-specific guidelines.
- Revenue Code: Consult revenue codes based on the specific payer and facility.Examples could include those related to cardiology services or diagnostic testing.
- RVU: RVUs vary by geographic location and payer. Consult current fee schedules for accurate values.
- Global Days: This code does not have a global period associated with it as it only covers the recording phase.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: A Technical Component (TC) modifier is not applicable to this code. The code itself only refers to the recording service. The professional interpretation is billed separately.
- Fee Schedule: Consult the CMS fee schedules for historical data on reimbursement for 93246.
- Specialties:Cardiology, Electrophysiology
- Place of Service:Office, Hospital (Inpatient or Outpatient), Ambulatory Surgical Center