Items Tagged: procedure



ZHealth Coding Newsletter - February 2018

February 2018 Q & A

Question: Single Lead Pacemaker Generator Change

1. Pacemaker generator change 2. Placement of a new lead in the right ventricle 3. Capping and abandonment of old lead. When the existing right ventricular lead has been capped and abandoned and new lead is advanced into the right ventricular apex using a combination of straight and custom-formed stylettes onto new pacemaker generator, (pulse generator was also changed), should this procedure be coded as 33212, 33216, 33233? Or 33227 with 33212 and 33216, and is fluoroscopy always included in a pacemaker procedure?

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ZHealth Special Edition Newsletter

Special Edition Newsletter: Moderate Sedation

Professional Billing of Moderate Sedation by the Physician Performing the Procedure When in a Facility Site of Service

In the physician RVU file there is a column labeled “PCTC IND” which designates when a code is technical-only or professional-only. The add-on code for each additional 15 minutes of moderate sedation by the physician performing the procedure (99153) is indicated as technical-only (3) in this field. In addition, there is an NA in the RVU file column titled “FACILITY NA INDICATOR”. The NA indicates “that this procedure is rarely or never performed in the facility setting”. Since code 99153 is technical only, a physician cannot report this code when performed in the facility setting.  

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ZHealth Coding Newsletter - October 2016

October 2016 Q & A

Question: Femoral Stent to Stop Bleeding

A patient had a TAVR procedure and had continued bleeding of the femoral artery, so a femoral artery stent was deployed. What code do I use for this service? I see that the CPT book states, "Codes 37220-37235 are to be used to describe lower extremity endovascular revascularization services performed for occlusive disease," so I know that these codes do not apply since the stent was deployed for hemostasis. Is this a billable service?

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ZHealth Coding Newsletter - April 2016

April 2016 Q & A

Question: Popliteal Aneurysm

We are looking for a code for popliteal aneurysm (37236?). This is what one of our physicians said: "34900 code is an aneurysm procedure code, and although specifies iliac it is far more reflective of the procedure type and work, including large sheath placement that is involved with popliteal aneurysm repair. In fact the 2 procedures are almost identical except one is done at a more distal location." What code do you suggest we use for popliteal aneurysm and why?

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