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Drainage of previously placed pleural catheter

Date: Nov 23, 2014

Question:

Hi! One outpatient department performs this procedure. The patient comes in with a previously placed pleural catheter. The catheter is attached to a drainage system to drain fluid. Since the catheter was already in place, it does not seem appropriate to report CPT code 32556. Should the hospital report a low level E/M code or 32556 with a 52 modifier? Thanks in advance!

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