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11.02.06r, Catheter Ablation of Cardiac Arrhythmias
Act
by Jan 1, 2025
Effective date
Jan 1, 2025
Identified
Jun 19, 2026
Summary
Independence Blue Cross has reissued policy 11.02.06r for catheter ablation of cardiac arrhythmias as part of its annual review process. The policy 11.02.06s (current version) supersedes 11.02.06r and includes a CPT code update effective 01/01/2025 affecting code 93656. Coverage criteria for supraventricular arrhythmias, ventricular arrhythmias, and atrial fibrillation ablation remain substantively unchanged, but billing teams must verify correct code usage for claims submitted on or after the effective date.
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What to do
by Jan 1, 2025 · 4 steps
01Billing team must verify that CPT code 93656 and related cardiac ablation codes (93650, 93653) are correctly mapped in billing software and that all associated ICD-10 diagnosis codes (I45.89, I47.10-I47.19, I48.0, I48.11, I48.19, I48.20, I48.21, I48.3, I48.4, I48.91) are available for selection.
02Immediately review policy 11.02.06s (the superseding version) to ensure medical necessity documentation requirements are met for all ablation claims: for supraventricular arrhythmias, confirm symptomatology; for atrial fibrillation, document failed antiarrhythmic trials or heart failure class; for ventricular arrhythmias, verify structural heart disease status or symptomatic VT without structural disease AND at least one of: drug intolerance, drug resistance, or contraindication.
03Update billing and coding staff that policy 11.02.06r is no longer active—reference only 11.02.06s going forward.
04Notify providers to include appropriate medical necessity documentation on encounter notes to support claims.
If missed: Failure to use updated code narratives and maintain compliant documentation may result in claim denials or recoupment.
Codes mentioned
936509365393656C1732C1733C2630I45.89I47.10I47.11I47.19I48.0I48.11I48.19I48.20I48.21I48.3I48.4I48.91
Original notice
11.02.06r, Catheter Ablation of Cardiac Arrhythmias
medpolicy.ibx.com · Always check the source before changing claims.
Related changes
See all Independence Blue Cross changes →MA11.060h, Catheter Ablation of Cardiac ArrhythmiasLowNo effective date · Medical PolicyMA11.060h, Catheter Ablation of Cardiac ArrhythmiasLowNo effective date · Medical Policy11.02.06r, Catheter Ablation of Cardiac ArrhythmiasMediumEffective Jan 1, 2025 · Medical PolicyMA08.021c, Dofetilide (Tikosyn®) Use in the Inpatient SettingLowEffective Mar 11, 2024 · PharmacyBrowse every Independence Blue Cross change in the policy list