Summary & Overview
CPT 93287: Implantable Defibrillator Reprogramming and Evaluation
CPT code 93287 denotes a face‑to‑face evaluation conducted before or after a surgical procedure to optimally adjust the parameters of an implanted single, dual, or multiple‑lead implantable cardioverter‑defibrillator (ICD). The code bundles both professional and technical components of device interrogation and reprogramming, making it central to managing patients with implanted defibrillators. Nationally, accurate use of this code affects clinical documentation, device management programs, and reimbursement for cardiac electrophysiology services.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise review of the clinical context for ICD reprogramming, common billing considerations, relevant modifiers provided in the input, and operational benchmarks where available. The publication outlines expected sites of service and the service type associated with the code, clarifies what the code represents clinically, and identifies areas where input data is not available. The goal is to give clinicians, coders, and administrators a clear national‑level summary of CPT code 93287 so they can align documentation and billing processes with clinical practice and payer expectations.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 93287 describes a face‑to‑face evaluation performed before or after a surgical procedure with optimization of the operating parameters of an already implanted single, dual, or multiple‑lead implantable cardioverter‑defibrillator (ICD) system. The service includes reprogramming of sensing and therapy functions that regulate cardiac activity across one, two, or more chambers and represents both the professional and technical components of the procedure.
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Service type: Device reprogramming and adjustment (evaluation and management combined with device optimization)
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Typical site of service: Hospital inpatient or outpatient setting, cardiac electrophysiology laboratory, or specialized device clinic where implanted defibrillator systems are managed
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 68-year-old patient with ischemic cardiomyopathy and a previously implanted dual-lead implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) presents for a face-to-face evaluation and device reprogramming after recent episodes of inappropriate shocks and documented non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. The electrophysiology or cardiology device clinic visit occurs in an outpatient cardiology clinic or ambulatory procedure area. The provider performs an in-person assessment of wound/incision site (if recent implant or generator change), reviews transmitted device diagnostics and electrograms, interrogates the ICD to assess lead function, sensing thresholds, and battery status, and then optimally adjusts sensing, detection, and therapy parameters across one or more chambers to reduce inappropriate therapies and improve arrhythmia detection. The service includes both the professional evaluation and the technical programming/adjustment of an already implanted single-, dual-, or multi-lead defibrillator system (device interrogation, parameter changes, and documentation). Typical workflow: pre-visit review of device transmission and prior records; face-to-face patient interview and physical exam; device interrogation with programmer; review of stored electrograms and arrhythmia logs; reprogramming of sensing, tachycardia detection intervals, therapy zones, and pacing parameters; post-programming verification testing; documentation of changes and patient counseling. Typical sites of service are outpatient cardiology offices, device clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, or same-day procedure units. Payors involved may include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, BUCA, and Medicare.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
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