ZHealth Coding Newsletter - December 2015

December 2015 Q & A

Question: WPS and Popliteal Aneurysm

With the new LCD for ICD-10, popliteal aneurysm I72.4 is not covered for 37236. It also is not covered for 37226. What do you recommend if a patient has a popliteal aneurysm and is MCR or MCR replacement in our area? The particular patient I have now is having thrombosis due to the aneurysm, but by coding guidelines it would be covered for intent, which is the aneurysm. The thrombosis is covered under 37226 if it is okay to code for thrombosis and not aneurysm. We do these all the time, this is just the first one that came up since ICD-10 and I need to be able to educate my physicians on coverage.
Read More

Job Posting

ADVOCATE, a growing Fortune 5000 healthcare medical billing company, is looking for an Interventional Radiology Medical Coder and an Oncology Coder.

ADVOCATE Radiology Billing & Reimbursement Specialists is an innovative leader in the national radiology reimbursement and management sector of healthcare. We contribute outstanding technical insight with client-friendly services to help our clients achieve optimal top line revenue performance. Visit www.radadvocate.com for more information.

Read More

ZHealth Coding Newsletter - November 2015

November 2015 Q & A

Question: Upgrade from Dual Pacemaker to BiV AICD

The upgrade to a biV AICD from a dual pacer leads me to CPT codes 33230, 33233, and 33225. But this scenario is very confusing because the descriptor for 33230 says "with existing dual leads", so should I use 33231 because now with the addition of the LV lead that was implanted along with the BiV generator,  I have 3 total leads?

 

Read More

ZHealth Coding Newsletter - October 2015

October 2015 Q & A

Question: When do you use 75630 vs 75625

I am completely confused on Abdominal Aortic imaging. Does CPT code 75625 require 2 catheter placements or not? For example, physician places a catheter in the abdominal aorta near the renal arteries and performs abdominal aortography, also documents bilateral pelvic and common femoral artery imaging. The physician then moves the catheter to the SFA and completes the angiography with chase bolus runoff to the foot on the left. Is this coded as 36247, 75625, 75716 or is it 36247, 75630?

Read More

ZHealth Coding Newsletter - September 2015

September 2015 Q & A

Question: 36228 with Pipeline Embolization

Following diagnostic cerebral angiogram with bilateral internal carotid artery catheter and 3D angiogram requiring separate work station, angle projections for treatment of the cavernous segment of the right internal carotid artery aneurysm were obtained. Navien catheter was positioned within the intracranial segment of the right internal carotid artery, and Marksman catheter was navigated into the right middle cerebral artery. Then pipeline embolization was done on the right cavernous carotid segment. At the completion of the coiling procedure, cerebral angiogram was performed via the right internal carotid artery. Besides 36224-50, can I add 36228 in this case even though the embolization was at cavernous carotid? I also coded 61624, 75894, 75898, and 76377. Are these the right codes for this case?

Read More