Summary & Overview
CPT 0331T: Planar Myocardial Sympathetic Innervation Imaging
CPT code 0331T describes planar myocardial sympathetic innervation imaging, a specialized nuclear medicine diagnostic study that visualizes cardiac sympathetic nerve activity. This imaging modality has clinical importance for assessing neurocardiac function in conditions such as heart failure, arrhythmia risk stratification, and other autonomic cardiac disorders. Nationally, the availability and reimbursement of this specialized study influence access to advanced cardiac diagnostic tools and downstream clinical decision-making.
Key payers referenced include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of payer coverage patterns, typical sites of service, and common billing modifiers associated with the procedure. The publication summarizes benchmark reimbursement considerations, coding guidance for documentation and service reporting, and the clinical context that informs appropriate use.
This summary provides a concise reference for health plan analysts, revenue cycle professionals, and clinical leaders seeking to understand how CPT code 0331T is used, coded, and reimbursed across major national payers. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 0331T represents planar myocardial sympathetic innervation imaging, a nuclear medicine imaging procedure that evaluates sympathetic nerve activity in the heart. The service type is diagnostic nuclear imaging. The typical site of service is outpatient imaging centers or hospital nuclear medicine departments.
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 68-year-old male with a history of ischemic cardiomyopathy and persistent orthostatic hypotension is referred for planar myocardial sympathetic innervation imaging to evaluate cardiac sympathetic nerve integrity. The patient presents to a nuclear cardiology lab on an outpatient basis. The typical workflow includes: scheduling and pre-authorization; review of indications, medications, and allergies; informed consent; administration of the radiotracer appropriate for myocardial sympathetic imaging; acquisition of planar anterior and left anterior oblique images at protocol-specified times; image processing and interpretation by a nuclear medicine physician or cardiology specialist; and documentation of findings in the medical record with correlation to clinical symptoms and prior cardiac testing. Typical site of service is an outpatient hospital-based nuclear medicine department, freestanding imaging center, or ambulatory surgical center when applicable. Common clinical reasons for testing include evaluation of suspected cardiac autonomic neuropathy, risk stratification in heart failure, and assessment of unexplained syncope or orthostatic hypotension when sympathetic denervation is suspected.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when only the physician interpretation/report for the planar myocardial sympathetic innervation imaging is reported separately from technical services. |
TC | Technical component | Use when only the technical component (radiotracer, image acquisition) is billed by the facility. |
52 | Reduced services | Use when the imaging study is partially reduced in scope (e.g., early termination) but still performed. |
53 | Discontinued procedure | Use when the imaging procedure is started but halted for patient safety or intolerance before completion. |
62 | Two surgeons | Rarely applicable but use when two physicians of the same specialty share responsibility for the procedure interpretation under specific payer rules. |
80 | Assistant surgeon | Use when an assistant surgeon is legitimately required and documented for a related invasive procedure during the same encounter (rare for planar imaging). |
AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | Use per payer rules when eligible non-physician practitioner performs allowed components under supervision for related services. |
QK | Medical direction of two, three, or four assistants | Use only when medical direction of multiple assistants meets regulatory criteria in related operative contexts. |
QX | Qualified nonphysician assistant | Use when a qualified nonphysician assistant performs allowable assistance services per payer rules. |
QY | Medical direction of one assistant | Use when the physician medically directs one qualified assistant under applicable rules. |
62 | Two surgeons | Use when two surgeons of the same specialty work together and documentation supports shared responsibility. |
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
208000000X | Nuclear Medicine Physician | Interprets and reports myocardial sympathetic innervation imaging. |
207P00000X | Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiologist) | Refers and correlates imaging results with clinical cardiac management. |
363LP0800X | Radiology/Diagnostic Radiology | May provide technical oversight in hybrid imaging centers. |
367A00000X | Nurse Practitioner | May provide pre-test evaluation and patient education in the imaging clinic. |
246Q00000X | Physician Assistant | May perform delegated components of patient care related to the imaging visit. |
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
G90.9 | Disorder of the autonomic nervous system, unspecified | Relevant for evaluation of autonomic dysfunction affecting cardiac sympathetic innervation. |
I50.22 | Chronic systolic (congestive) heart failure | Cardiac sympathetic innervation imaging can assist in risk stratification and evaluation of autonomic dysfunction in heart failure. |
I49.9 | Cardiac arrhythmia, unspecified | Used when arrhythmias prompt assessment of underlying autonomic contribution. |
R55 | Syncope and collapse | Indication when unexplained syncope may be related to autonomic dysfunction. |
E11.42 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic polyneuropathy | Diabetic autonomic neuropathy can involve cardiac sympathetic denervation; imaging may be indicated. |
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
0331T | Planar myocardial sympathetic innervation imaging | Primary code used to report the planar myocardial sympathetic innervation study. |
78800 | Radiopharmaceutical localization of tumor or distribution of radiopharmaceutical agent when performed for imaging (planar) | May be used for reporting the injection/planar imaging of certain radiopharmaceuticals when applicable and payer allows linkage for technical services. |
96372 | Therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection (specify substance or drug); subcutaneous or intramuscular | May be used when billing for administration of an injectable radiopharmaceutical per facility/payer rules if separate from nuclear medicine technical component billing. |
74000 | Radiologic examination, abdomen, single view, frontal | Data not available in the input. |
93000 | Electrocardiogram, routine ECG with at least 12 leads; with interpretation and report | Often performed before or during nuclear cardiology visits to correlate cardiac rhythm and rate with imaging findings. |