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TAVR

Date: Dec 5, 2014

Question:

Coding Clinic states that a diagnostic left heart cath may be reported with the TAVR (ICD-9), but states that sampling or monitoring of heart pressures is included in the TAVR procedure. What would indicate that a left cardiac cath is done for a diagnostic purpose? Is the physician's statement that it is a "diagnostic left heart cath" enough? He gave indications (acute on chronic dias heart failure from aortic stenosis) and only provided the LEDVP. It seems to me that all patients who require a TAVR probably have some degree of acute or chronic heart failure. Would this scenario be sufficient to code the CPT for the diagnostic left heart cath in addition to the TAVR? I am hoping this will provide some insight into my ICD-9 coding.

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