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Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is a non-invasive imaging technique that employs ultrasonic sound waves to create visual representations of the heart and its major blood vessels. This procedure is particularly valuable in assessing congenital cardiac anomalies, which are structural heart defects present at birth. During a TTE, sound waves are emitted from a transducer placed on the patient's chest, and these waves bounce off the heart structures, generating electrical signals that are transformed into real-time images displayed on a computer screen. The images produced provide both two-dimensional views and dynamic motion sequences of the heart, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of its anatomy and function.
In the context of CPT® Code 93304, the procedure is categorized as a follow-up or limited study specifically aimed at monitoring congenital cardiac anomalies. Unlike a complete TTE, which thoroughly examines all heart structures, a follow-up or limited study may concentrate on a specific area of concern, thereby not requiring a full assessment of all cardiac components. This targeted approach is essential for ongoing management and evaluation of patients with known congenital heart defects, enabling healthcare providers to make informed decisions regarding treatment and further diagnostic needs.
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The follow-up or limited transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) indicated by CPT® Code 93304 is performed for specific clinical scenarios related to congenital cardiac anomalies. The following indications are explicitly recognized for this procedure:
The procedure for CPT® Code 93304 involves several key steps that ensure a thorough yet focused evaluation of the heart. The following procedural steps are outlined:
Post-procedure care for a follow-up or limited transthoracic echocardiography is generally minimal, as the procedure is non-invasive and does not typically require recovery time. Patients may resume normal activities immediately following the examination. However, it is essential for healthcare providers to review the echocardiography results with the patient, discussing any findings that may necessitate further evaluation or intervention. Follow-up appointments may be scheduled based on the results of the study and the patient's clinical status, ensuring continuous monitoring of the congenital cardiac anomaly.
| Short Descr | ECHO TRANSTHORACIC | Medium Descr | F-UP/LIMITED TTHRC ECHO CONGENITAL CAR ANOMALY | Long Descr | Transthoracic echocardiography for congenital cardiac anomalies; follow-up or limited study | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 1 - Diagnostic Tests for Radiology Services | Multiple Procedures (51) | 6 - Special payment adjustment rules on the technical component (TC) of multiple diagnostic cardiovascular services apply... | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Procedure or Service, Not Discounted when Multiple | Type of Service (TOS) | 5 - Diagnostic Laboratory | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | I3C - Echography/ultrasonography - heart | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 193 - Diagnostic ultrasound of heart (echocardiogram) |
This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.
| 93319 | Add-on Code Resequenced Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N 3D echocardiographic imaging and postprocessing during transesophageal echocardiography, or during transthoracic echocardiography for congenital cardiac anomalies, for the assessment of cardiac structure(s) (eg, cardiac chambers and valves, left atrial appendage, interatrial septum, interventricular septum) and function, when performed (List separately in addition to code for echocardiographic imaging) | 93320 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N PUB 100 CPT Assistant Article Doppler echocardiography, pulsed wave and/or continuous wave with spectral display (List separately in addition to codes for echocardiographic imaging); complete | 93321 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N PUB 100 CPT Assistant Article Doppler echocardiography, pulsed wave and/or continuous wave with spectral display (List separately in addition to codes for echocardiographic imaging); follow-up or limited study (List separately in addition to codes for echocardiographic imaging) | 93325 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N PUB 100 CPT Assistant Article Doppler echocardiography color flow velocity mapping (List separately in addition to codes for echocardiography) | 93356 | Add-on Code Resequenced Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N Myocardial strain imaging using speckle tracking-derived assessment of myocardial mechanics (List separately in addition to codes for echocardiography imaging) |
| 26 | Professional component: certain procedures are a combination of a physician or other qualified health care professional component and a technical component. when the physician or other qualified health care professional component is reported separately, the service may be identified by adding modifier 26 to the usual procedure number. | 51 | Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | 53 | Discontinued procedure: under certain circumstances, the physician or other qualified health care professional may elect to terminate a surgical or diagnostic procedure. due to extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient, it may be necessary to indicate that a surgical or diagnostic procedure was started but discontinued. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 53 to the code reported by the individual for the discontinued procedure. note: this modifier is not used to report the elective cancellation of a procedure prior to the patient's anesthesia induction and/or surgical preparation in the operating suite. for outpatient hospital/ambulatory surgery center (asc) reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use). | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | 76 | Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 77 | Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | PD | Diagnostic or related non diagnostic item or service provided in a wholly owned or operated entity to a patient who is admitted as an inpatient within 3 days | TC | Technical component; under certain circumstances, a charge may be made for the technical component alone; under those circumstances the technical component charge is identified by adding modifier 'tc' to the usual procedure number; technical component charges are institutional charges and not billed separately by physicians; however, portable x-ray suppliers only bill for technical component and should utilize modifier tc; the charge data from portable x-ray suppliers will then be used to build customary and prevailing profiles | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service |
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| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Medium description changed. |
| 1997-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 1997. |
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