Ask Dr. Z

I have an appeal denial from UHC stating that cpt code 37233-59-LT (1 Unit) remains not supported. As per the Society of Interventional Radiology Coding Manual, if an angioplasty or atherectomy of an occlusion is unsuccessful because the lesion cannot be crossed, then the appropriate access and/or selection only should be coded. As such, the request for CPT code 37233 is denied as "Not Documented."

I don't understand this - our provider documented atherectomy/PTA in left AT, and a partially successful atherectomy and PTA of the left PT (residual stenosis). Are we not able to bill for code 37233 for the second vessel because it was partially successful?