Ask Dr. Z

Dr.Z, I code for a vascular surgeon and the procdure is an exposure of LCFA and LCFV for the purposes of transcatheter aortic valve placement (TAVR) by Cardiac surgeons. Vascular surgeon exposed the artery and then turns the procedure over to the Cardicac surgeons. When the procdure was completed the vascular surgeon closes the artery. My question is, is it correct to bill 34812 (Femoral artery exposure) and the cardiac surgeon bill for their portion procedure (unlisted code) or should both the vascular and the cardicac surgeons bill the same unlisted procdure code with the 62 modifier? It seems to me that since the vascular surgeon only exposes and closes the artery, we should only bill for that portion of the procdure. Thank you for your expertise.