Ask Dr. Z

Is it ever appropriate to report 76942 at the same session as 76937? (hospital/facility coding)

Example case in IR: Port-A-cath placement for cancer at same session as thigh muscle US guided core biopsy for soft tissue mass.

All required elements are documented for reporting ultrasound guided access for the port placement. Would it be appropriate to report 36561, 76937, 77001-XS (NCCI edit with 20206) for the port along with 20206 and 76942-XS (NCCI edit with 36561, 76937, 77001) for the muscle biopsy? The -XS modifiers clear the NCCI edits, but there is still the 3M edit stating, "Do not report 76937 with 76942." My rationale is that I'm reporting them for completely separate procedures performed from different access sites and performed on different anatomy areas. Is that the correct thought process for this scenario, or is it just a never ever report 76937 and 76942 together no matter what?