new cardiac m r i c p t codes（新的心脏m r i c p t代码）.docVIP

New Cardiac MRI codes take Effect January 1, 2008 The updated Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Category I codes released by the American Medical Association will go into effect on Jan. 1st, 2008. There will be eight new cardiac MRI codes (75557-75564) and they will completely replace the 5 existing codes (75552-75556). The new codes were established to more accurately describe cardiac magnetic resonance imaging services as they are currently performed. The reason for the change is that cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) technology has significantly changed since the original CPT codes were established in 1993. At that time, the technology limited the procedure to relatively few indications. Improvement in spatial and temporal resolution has expanded the applications of CMR from predominantly an anatomic test to one that performs accurate physiologic evaluations. During a typical CMR examination anatomic static images are coupled with moving functional images to provide a unique analysis of morphology and cardiac function. Additionally, a clinician can apply flow and velocity sequences to patients with valvular or congenital heart disease for an accurate physiologic assessment. Finally, CMR can also be used as a technique to assess ischemic heart disease. For example, contrast techniques can be employed to evaluate myocardial viability, prior to revascularization. Improvements in CMR hardware and software now allow versatility in the assessment of myocardial ischemia depending on the clinician’s expertise. Pharmacological stress testing to identify myocardial ischemic risk can be done using either wall motion techniques (similar to stress echocardiography) or perfusion techniques (similar to radionuclide techniques). New Cardiac MRI CPT Codes 75557 Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for morphology and function without contrast material; 75558 with flow/velocity quantification 75559 with stress imaging 75560 with flow/velocity quan