Ask Dr. Z

Can you please clarify whether it would appropriate to code both pulmonary angioplasty codes (92997, 92998) and arterial vascular stent placement codes 37236, 37237 for pulmonary artery stent placement at the same session and in the same vessel? MD performed right heart catheterization, pulmonary artery angiography, LPA/RPA angioplasty – due to LPA,RPA narrowing bilateral stents were deployed. Of note the intent was not initially for stent placement but to determine why there was pulmonary stenosis. Please see reference below from Dr Z’s Medical Coding Series -Interventional Radiology coding Reference. Pg 278 #17. Separate cardiac codes for pulmonary artery angioplasty (92997,92998). Use established arterial vascular stent placement codes 37236/37237 for pulmonary artery stent placement(s). These procedures included catheter placements at the time of cardiac catherization.