January 9, 2020 Question: Is catheterization separately reported with renal angiograms? Answer: No. The renal angiogram codes, see table below, include all catherization. The codes are selected by order of catheterization and as unilateral or bilateral. Also, remember that a flush aortogram is included in the renal angiogram codes and not separately reported. CPT Code...
December 19, 2019 Question: Is angiogram of the iliac arteries reported with the pelvic angiogram code, 75736? Answer: No, code 75736, Angiography, pelvis, selective or superselective is only reported with selective or superselective catheterization of the internal iliac arteries (hypogastric arteries) and interpretation of pelvic vasculature. *This response is based on the best information available...
December 5, 2019 Question: How do we code multiple embolectomies of the aorta when using 34201? Do we code units by the number removed? Answer: 34201, Embolectomy or thrombectomy, with or without catheter; femoropopliteal, aortoiliac artery, by leg incision is billed once per leg incision no matter how many emboli are removed from each incision....
November 14, 2019 Question: The physician staged a patient’s bilateral carotid stent with embolic protection procedures. The right carotid stent was done first and then the 6 weeks later the left side was done. What is the correct modifier on the second carotid stent? Answer: The second carotid stent, although staged clinically, is an unrelated...
October 31, 2019 Question: Our vascular surgeon provided exposure for a neurosurgeon for a 3 level anterior spine procedure. We were told to bill 22558 only. Is that correct? Answer: No. If exposure for three levels is performed, the vascular surgeon may report 22558 Arthrodesis, anterior interbody technique for the first level, and the...
October 17, 2019 Question: A neurosurgeon asked my vascular surgeon to perform the exposure for an anterior spine procedure. Does he report an exploratory lap his work? Answer: No. providing the exposure for a neurosurgeon for an anterior spine procedure is co-surgery, since code 22558, Arthrodesis, anterior interbody technique includes both the exposure/approach and the...
October 3, 2019 Question: Can code 75630, aortogram, be reported with a unilateral or bilateral extremity angiogram (75710 of 75716)? Answer: No. This would constitute double billing of the extremity angiograms. As shown below, code 75630 includes an aortogram and visualization and interpretation of bilateral lower extremity arteries via a run-of. For this code, a...
September 19, 2019 Question: How do I code for an isolated iliac artery treated endovascularly with an iliac endograft? Answer: These codes were revised in 2018 to include either ruptured or unruptured iliac aneurysms. In addition, non-selective catheterization and radiological supervision and interpretation are now inclusive. The full code descriptions are shown below. The CPT...
September 5, 2019 Question: I’ve been dictating CPT and ICD-10-CM codes in my procedure note so that my coder knows what to bill. Recently, we had an insurance company call us out because the codes we billed were not the same as the codes in the procedure note. Now I am not sure what to...
August 22, 2019 Question: We are hiring a scribe for the doctor because it will help improve his documentation. Is there anything we need to know about how to document this? Answer: Yes, absolutely. This situation should be clearly delineated so a third party reviewer can identify the provider who performed the service, and the...
