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."
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![Axial images from unenhanced calcium score cardiac CT (left) and curved planar reformation images from CT angiography (right) show that higher long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with greater coronary artery calcium and more obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Top row: Images in a 68-year-old male patient with higher 10-year mean ambient air pollution exposure (7.9 μg/m3 for particulate matter measuring ≤2.5 μm in diameter [PM2.5] and 17.4 parts per billion [ppb] for NO2) with extensive CAD (coronary artery calcium score [CACS] >1,000 and obstructive CAD [≥70% diameter stenosis]). Bottom row: Images in a 57-year-old female patient with lower 10-year mean ambient air pollution exposure (6.3 μg/m3 for PM2.5 and 4.6 ppb for NO2) with no CAD (CACS = 0 and no obstructive stenosis).](https://img.auntminnie.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/06/hanneman.r6SMLzkezo.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
