Please note this question was answered in 2013. The coding advice may or may not be outdated.
Sampling from a Central Catheter
Question:
I have an interventional radiologist who performed a right internal jugular hickman catheter exchange (36581) with fluoroscopic guidance (77001) and then accessed a dialysis graft to obtain a blood culture. Can the blood culture be reported with code 36500? The report reads as follows: "The patient's left arm HeRO dialysis graft was accessed with a micropuncture kit. Over a stiff Glidewire, a Berenstein catheter was advanced through the graft to the right atrium. Blood culture was acquired through the catheter as it was slowly withdrawn through the dialysis access. The catheter was removed, and hemostasis was achieved with manual compression. Fluoroscopy was used intermittently during the case." This question is for professional billing. What would you code in this situation?
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