AMA releases final calcium, CCTA codes

Oct 7, 2009

The American Medical Association (AMA) of Chicago has released four new Category I CPT codes covering coronary CT artery calcium scoring and coronary CT angiography (CTA).

The new codes, which replace corresponding Category III data-gathering codes that have been in effect for the past several years, describe the most frequently performed procedures in cardiac CT.

(75571) Calcium Scoring -- CT, heart, without contrast material with quantitative evaluation of coronary calcium. (Replaces 0144T, not to be used with 75572-4.)

(75572) Pulmonary Veins -- CT, heart, with contrast material, for evaluation of cardiac structure and morphology.

(75572) Pulmonary Veins -- Cardiac CT with contrast material, for evaluation of cardiac structure and morphology includes 3D image postprocessing, assessment of cardiac function, and evaluation of venous structures, if performed. (Replaces 0145T.)

(75573) Congenital Heart Disease -- Cardiac CT with contrast material, for evaluation of cardiac structure and morphology in the setting of congenital heart disease. Includes 3D image postprocessing, assessment of cardiac left and right ventricular structure and function, and evaluation of venous structures, if performed. (Replaces 0150T.)

(75574) Coronary CT Angiography -- Cardiac CT including coronary arteries and bypass grafts (when present), with contrast material, including 3D image postprocessing. Includes evaluation of cardiac structure and morphology, assessment of cardiac function, and evaluation of venous structures, if performed. (Replaces 0146T-0149T.)

Still to come

In a statement released on Thursday, the Reston, VA-based American College of Radiology said that the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will likely assign the new cardiac CT/coronary CTA Category I codes in similar ambulatory payment classification groupings when the final Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System rule is released in November 2009.

"Hospitals should consider the costs and work levels associated with each new procedure code and develop representative charges, not simply transfer Category III "T" code payment rates to the new codes," the statement noted. "This will enable CMS to capture appropriate costs in future rate setting and avoid inaccurate hospital payments."