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The CPT® Code 93657 refers to an additional linear or focal intracardiac catheter ablation procedure specifically targeting the left or right atrium for the treatment of atrial fibrillation that persists after the completion of pulmonary vein isolation. This procedure is performed as a supplementary intervention following an initial ablation, which is typically denoted by CPT® Code 93656. The primary goal of this additional ablation is to eliminate any remaining arrhythmogenic foci that may be contributing to the ongoing atrial fibrillation. The procedure involves a comprehensive electrophysiologic study (EPS) that includes the induction or attempted induction of arrhythmia, allowing for a detailed assessment of the heart's electrical activity. During the procedure, multiple electrode catheters are inserted into the heart through transseptal catheterizations, which may involve puncturing the skin or making small incisions over blood vessels, usually in the groin area. These catheters are then maneuvered into the right and/or left atrium and/or right ventricle, where they can record electrical signals and deliver pacing stimuli. The EPS study encompasses various techniques, including left or right atrial pacing, right ventricular pacing, and His bundle recording, to evaluate all areas that may be involved in triggering or sustaining atrial fibrillation. Following the EPS, pacing techniques are employed to induce arrhythmia, which may involve adjusting pacing rates or using programmed stimulation. The procedure also incorporates intracardiac echocardiography and electrophysiological 3D mapping to visualize and analyze the arrhythmogenic pathways. Ultimately, the ablation catheter is applied to the targeted tissue around the pulmonary veins' connections to the left atrium to achieve effective isolation. Code 93657 is reported when additional ablation is necessary to address any residual atrial fibrillation after the initial pulmonary vein isolation has been completed.
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The procedure associated with CPT® Code 93657 is indicated for patients who continue to experience atrial fibrillation despite having undergone an initial pulmonary vein isolation procedure. The following conditions may warrant the performance of this additional ablation:
The procedure for CPT® Code 93657 involves several critical steps to ensure effective treatment of atrial fibrillation. The following procedural steps are performed:
Post-procedure care following the performance of CPT® Code 93657 typically involves monitoring the patient for any immediate complications and assessing the effectiveness of the ablation. Patients may be observed for signs of bleeding or infection at the catheter insertion sites. Additionally, the patient's heart rhythm will be monitored to evaluate the success of the ablation in eliminating atrial fibrillation. Follow-up appointments may be scheduled to assess the patient's recovery and to determine if further interventions are necessary. Patients are often advised on activity restrictions and may be prescribed medications to manage their heart rhythm and prevent thromboembolic events during the recovery period.
| Short Descr | TX L/R ATRIAL FIB ADDL | Medium Descr | ABLATE L/R ATRIAL FIBRIL W/ISOLATED PULM VEIN | Long Descr | Additional linear or focal intracardiac catheter ablation of the left or right atrium for treatment of atrial fibrillation remaining after completion of pulmonary vein isolation (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | ZZZ - Code Related to Another Service | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 0 - Physician Service Code | Multiple Procedures (51) | 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures 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 | Items and Services Packaged into APC Rates | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P2F - Major procedure, cardiovascular-Other | MUE | 2 | CCS Clinical Classification | 225 - Conversion of cardiac rhythm |
This is an add-on code that must be used in conjunction with one of these primary codes.
| 93656 | Changed Code for 2025 MPFS Status: Active Code APC J1 Comprehensive electrophysiologic evaluation with transseptal catheterizations, insertion and repositioning of multiple electrode catheters, induction or attempted induction of an arrhythmia including left or right atrial pacing/recording, and intracardiac catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation by pulmonary vein isolation, including intracardiac electrophysiologic 3-dimensional mapping, intracardiac echocardiography with imaging supervision and interpretation, right ventricular pacing/recording, and His bundle recording, when performed |
| 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. | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | 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. | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service | 80 | Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s). | 22 | Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | AO | Alternate payment method declined by provider of service | Q0 | Investigational clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | 82 | Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon not available): the unavailability of a qualified resident surgeon is a prerequisite for use of modifier 82 appended to the usual procedure code number(s). | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | 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). | 52 | Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient 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). | 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). | 58 | Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78. | 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. | 78 | Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician or other qualified health care professional following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure (unplanned procedure following initial procedure). when this procedure is related to the first, and requires the use of an operating/procedure room, it may be reported by adding modifier 78 to the related procedure. (for repeat procedures, see modifier 76.) | 79 | Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.) | CC | Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed) | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | GD | Units of service exceeds medically unlikely edit value and represents reasonable and necessary services | 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 | 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 | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | TG | Complex/high tech level of care | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter |
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| 2017-01-01 | Changed | Moderate (Conscious) Sedation flag removed. See new Moderate Sedation category. |
| 2013-01-01 | Added | Added |
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