January 2018 Q & A

Question: Peripheral Angiography with a Cardiac Cath

Left heart catheterization is ordered for a patient with unstable angina. The Op report states that the patient also has a small ulcer on the foot, a history of atherectomy of the SFA, and reassuring ABI. Catheterization is performed via a right radial artery access. Subsequently, the catheter is moved down to right common femoral artery where runoff of the right leg with digital subtraction at 2 levels is performed. CFA is normal and arthrectomy site is patent. Would this be coded 93458, 36247, 75710?

December 2016 Q & A

Question: Fractional Flow Reserve without Catheterization

February 2015 Q & A

Question: Heart Transplant - Congenital Versus Non-congenital

There has been much back and forth over the years as to whether or not congenital heart transplant patients should continue to be reported as congenital for heart catheterization coding purposes. Physicians state that “once congenital always congenital”, but I've understood from consultant recommendations that unless the new heart has a congenital defect or complex rerouting of vessels due to congenital cardiac anatomy, then all heart caths for transplant patients are coded as non-congenital. Can you please clarify?

June 2014 Q & A

Question: Sphenopalatine Artery Catheterization

How would I code the following? Specifically, the catheterizations of the sphenopalatine arteries. Would you only code based on the angiograms that were performed?

Catheterization of the following vessels : 1. Left common carotid artery...