Medicare AdvantageReimbursementMedium impact
Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island·RI · Anesthesiology, Cardiology·Physician / Facility
Effective date
Jan 1, 2019
We identified it
Jun 20, 2026
Summary
Effective January 1, 2019, Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) procedures performed by anesthesiologists will be covered but not separately reimbursed by BCBSRI. This means anesthesiologists can no longer bill separately for TEE services - they are now bundled into other procedure payments.
Action Required
Immediately: Billing team must stop billing CPT codes 73312-73318 separately when performed by anesthesiologists for BCBSRI BlueCHiP Medicare and Commercial plans. Update billing software to bundle these codes or flag them as non-billable when provider specialty is anesthesiology. Remove these codes from anesthesiologist encounter forms for BCBSRI patients.