Summary & Overview
CPT 93573: Pulmonary Artery Angiography During Cardiac Catheterization
CPT code 93573 represents pulmonary artery angiography performed during cardiac catheterization, a diagnostic invasive imaging service that visualizes the right and left pulmonary arteries and assesses pulmonary blood flow. This procedure is clinically important for evaluating pulmonary vascular anatomy and hemodynamics in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, congenital heart disease, or other cardiopulmonary conditions. Nationally, accurate coding and documentation of this service affect clinical records, utilization tracking, and payer adjudication for invasive cardiology services.
Key payers commonly involved in coverage and reimbursement for this service include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of what CPT code 93573 represents, typical sites of service, and the clinical context in which the procedure is used. The publication also summarizes benchmarks and policy-relevant topics readers should consider, such as coding guidance, documentation expectations, and where to locate payer-specific coverage rules. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable. The content is intended for national audiences including clinicians, billing professionals, and policy analysts seeking concise information on the code's clinical role and administrative implications.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 93573 describes pulmonary artery angiography performed during a cardiac catheterization. During this procedure, the provider inserts a catheter into the right and left pulmonary arteries, injects contrast dye to visualize the arterial anatomy, assesses blood flow dynamics, supervises imaging acquisition, interprets the resulting images, and documents findings in a formal report.
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Service type: Invasive diagnostic vascular imaging performed as part of a cardiac catheterization procedure
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Typical site of service: Hospital catheterization laboratory or ambulatory surgical center
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old patient with progressive dyspnea, hypoxemia, and suspected pulmonary hypertension is brought to the cardiac catheterization lab for invasive hemodynamic assessment. The interventional cardiology team performs right heart catheterization as part of a diagnostic cardiac catheterization. During the procedure, the provider advances a catheter into the right and left pulmonary arteries and injects radiographic contrast to visualize the pulmonary arterial tree and assess perfusion and flow dynamics. The provider supervises fluoroscopic imaging, interprets the arteriograms, documents pulmonary artery anatomy (including presence of stenosis, thromboembolic material, or arterial remodeling), and generates a formal report. Typical workflow includes pre-procedure consent and allergies review, vascular access (commonly femoral or jugular), right heart pressures measurement, selective pulmonary artery catheterization with contrast injections, image acquisition, interpretation, and post-procedure monitoring in the recovery area. The Typical Site of Service is the hospital cardiac catheterization laboratory or an ambulatory surgical center equipped for invasive cardiac procedures.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Unspecified | Rarely used; do not use for standard reporting of this procedure. |
23 |