Ask Dr. Z

Ask Dr. Z Knowledge Base houses over 7,500 coding questions and answers dating back to 2013.

Ask Dr. Z Disclaimer

Please note this question was answered in 2022. The coding advice may or may not be outdated.

Cervicocerebral catheter placement w/o angiography

Date: Aug 15, 2022

Question:

If embolization of a carotid body tumor was performed without diagnostic angiography (previous recent diagnostic study), how would the selective catheterizations used for embolization be reported? We've been told to use the diagnostic codes 36222-36228 with a -52 modifier to indicate that the angiography wasn't performed. We don't agree, and feel the 36215-36218 codes should be used. Which is correct? Are there guidelines from AMA or CMS regarding cerebral catheter placement without diagnostic angiography? 

Question ID : 17669
Sign up for a membership to view the answer to this question.

Need to ask Dr.Z?

Don't see the answer you're looking for in the knowledge base? No problem. You can ask Dr. Z directly!
Ask Dr. Z a question now!