September 17, 2020 Question: I sent a patient out to the hospital for a CTA and the patient brought in the actual images and the radiologist’s report for me to review. Can I charge 76140 (Consultation on X-ray examination made elsewhere, written report) when I personally interpret those images and write my own report? Answer:...
September 3, 2020 Question: I work with a surgeon and we see just a few Medicare patients. The surgeon believes the revised 2021 E/M guidelines will not impact our office practice because of our low Medicare volume. Is this correct? Answer: This is not correct, but it is a common misconception. The revised documentation requirements...
August 20, 2020 Question: The surgeon used a stent and then inserted an embolization coil for an aneurysm. Are both billable? Answer: If the stent is placed to provide a latticework for deployment of the embolism coil, then no. You would just bill for the embolization. If the stent itself is the sole definitive procedure...
August 6, 2020 Question: Our vascular surgeon documented a single intervention for a lesion that crosses the margin between the fem/pop and tibial/peritoneal territories. Should we bill one code or one for each territory? Answer: You would bill one code since a single intervention was performed. *This response is based on the best information available...
July 23, 2020 Question: Can we bill for all vessels mentioned if they are documented within the angiogram? Answer: No. You should only bill for vessels that are targeted and are medically necessary. Documentation alone doesn’t always mean that procedures are separately billable. *This response is based on the best information available as of 07/23/20.
July 9, 2020 Question: I’m new to vascular coding, can we bill for vascular access for a catheterization? The provider documents this, so I’m thinking I am missing a code. Answer: No, vascular access itself is not separately billable with a catheterization. However, the provider must document if access was obtained on the same side...
June 25, 2020 Question: I have 2 vascular surgeons from the same practice that want to bill co-surgery for a complex open abdominal aneurysm repair. They both performed the same code but say that it should be co-surgery because it was complex and needed both surgeons. Can we bill with modifier -62? Answer: The surgery...
June 11, 2020 Question: Does it matter that the open exposure codes are now add-on codes? Does that change payment or coding in any way? Answer: Yes, this change has both coding and payment implications. In terms of coding, the open exposure codes can now only be reported with a primary code; the main body...
May 28, 2020 Question: I almost always use a 12 French or larger catheter for placing the main body for EVAR. Do I always bill the new code 34713, when what I use is 12 French or larger? Answer: Yes, if your approach/exposure is percutaneous. CPT code +34713, Percutaneous access and closure of femoral artery...
May 14, 2020 Question: Since we have to bring the patients back in for COVID testing and H&P for Joint Commission, can we bill for this visit even though it’s another pre-op visit? Answer: Yes, since the patient was rescheduled due to the pandemic and needs to be seen for a COVID swab prior to surgery,...
