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Thrombolysis with angioplasty and/or stent placement

Date: Aug 31, 2022

Question:

Can you give clarification for billing codes 37220-37230 for angioplasty/stent with thrombolysis (overnight lysis) when treating thromboembolic occlusion? I'd like to give my physicians some clear instructions for documentation guidelines on these interventions, and I have seen conflicting information and even some instruction that you cannot bill any intervention with thrombolysis since that is not for stenosis. Must there be the specific word "stenosis" used to bill for interventions with thrombolysis? What if just "occlusion" is used? Physicians use stenosis/occlusion interchangeably. If stenosis is not stated and they are treating thrombosis or thromboembolic occlusion, can intervention be billed with 37236-37246? Or do they just get nothing? 

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