Vessel Exploration

Question:

What code is used to make an incision over the femoral artery to evaluate for injury, and explore it without any repair?

Answer:

Use code 35703, Exploration not followed by surgical repair, artery; lower extremity (eg, common femoral, deep femoral, superficial femoral, popliteal, tibial, peroneal)

Coding Thrombolysis Infusion and Stent

Question:

A patient with a clot in the femoral artery had overnight infusion of thrombolytics. When the catheter was removed the next day, the doctor place a stent in the same artery, the superficial femoral . can both be billed?

Answer:

Yes, the removal of the catheter, 37214 is billed in addition to stent placement as shown below. There is no NCCI edit for these two codes
37226          Femoral stent
37214-51     Removal of thrombolytic catheter

E&M Coding Based on Time

Question:

When choosing the level of E&M we are confused about the History and Exam. If we choose a level of E&M based on time, does this time count toward total time, or is it only time spent on MDM?

Answer:

When choosing a level of E&M based on time, CPT identifies the following activities as those that may contribute to total time on the date of service. As displayed below in bold font, obtaining the history and performing the exam contribute to the total time for code selection. These activities occur on the same day as the actual encounter to contribute to the level of service.

Physician/other qualified health care professional time includes the following activities when performed:

• preparing to see the patient (eg, review of tests);
• obtaining and/or reviewing separately obtained history;
• performing a medically appropriate examination and/or evaluation;
• counseling and educating the patient/family/ caregiver;
• ordering medications, tests, or procedures;
• referring and communicating with other health care professionals (when not separately reported);
• documenting clinical information in the electronic or other health record;
• independently interpreting results (when not separately reported) and communicating results to the patient/family/caregiver; and
  care coordination (when not separately reported).

Secondary Payor Doesn’t Recognize Consultations

Question:

We have a patient with 2 commercial payers (BCBS and Cigna). A consultation code was submitted to BCBS, and they paid according to our contract. However, Cigna is refusing to process the claim since they no longer pay for consult codes. Am I allowed to change the CPT code and rebill Cigna? Or would I need to change the CPT, refile to the primary as a corrected claim, then send the balance on to Cigna?

Answer:

We suggest calling CIGNA and ask how they want this handled according to their policies. WithMedicareyou have two options: (1) bill the appropriate category and level of service documented (e.g., for outpatient consults [99202-99215] or inpatient consults [99221-99223]) or (2) bill the consultation code, which will result in a denial of payment from Medicare and appeal on paper explaining the situation.

Lesion Crossing Two Territories

Question:

Our vascular surgeon did a single intervention on a lesion that was at the juncture of the femoral/popliteal and tibial/peritoneal territories. Can we charge for two interventions?

Answer:

Lesions that extend across the margins of one vessel vascular territory into another, but can be treated with a single therapy are reported with a single intervention code.

Venogram and Catheterization

Question:

During a catheterization the surgeon performed a venogram. I don’t see that these procedures are bundled, is that correct?

Answer:

Venous catheterization codes are separately reported with venograms, unless they are performed at the same session with an intervention that includes catheterization.