Cardiology Coding Question: Separate Reporting for 37204

November 7, 2009

Question: Should I separately report right and left bronchial artery embolization?

Answer: You should report 37204 (Transcatheter occlusion or embolization [e.g., for tumor destruction, to achieve hemostasis, to occlude a vascular malformation], percutaneous, any method, non-central nervous system, non-head or neck) twice for right and left lung embolization at the same encounter.

In addition, if the cardiologist provides supervision and interpretation (S&I), you should report 75894 (Transcatheter therapy, embolization, any method, radiological supervision and interpretation) twice.

Support: CPT Assistant (October 1998) states you should report 37204 once “for each operative field addressed.” When the cardiologist embolizes the right and left bronchial arteries, he addresses two separate operative fields (right and left lung). CPT Assistant suggests appending modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service) to the codes for the second and subsequent fields.

Bonus tip: You should report one pair of codes (37204, 75894) per field even if the physician treats multiple vessels in that field or uses many coils or other embolic materials in a single vessel, states CPT Assistant (September 1998).

© Cardiology Coding Alert. Download your 2 free sample issues here.

AUDIO TRAINING EVENT: Don’t miss a beat in 2010. Listen to our 2010 Cardiology Coding & Reimbursement Update.

Related articles:

Cardiology Coding Education: Pacemaker Lead Check Question: The cardiologist documented testing pacemaker leads using fluoroscopy…
2 New 2010 CPT Codes for High-Tech Cardiology ServicesSteer clear of Cat. I codes for intravascular spectroscopy — here’s…
OB or Not OB: That’s the Ultrasound Coding QuestionQuestion: For an ultrasound, the radiologist documented measurements of the uterus,…

Share:

More Posts

Last-Minute Tips For Creating An ICD-10 Command Center

When the clock ticks in a new month and the entire healthcare industry is thereby mandated to begin using the new ICD-10 code set, there

ICD-10 Data: Does It Matter?

It is often argued that ICD-10 coding does nothing for the patient. Recently that point was made at the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing “Examining ICD-10 Implementation” last week.

Researchers Create Online Tool To Ease Transition to ICD-10 Codes

Researchers have developed an online mapping tool designed to help stakeholders transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 code sets, EHR Intelligence reports.

Know your Priorities When it Comes to ICD-10: Five Areas that Deserve your Attention Now

The next nine months are critical in terms of preparing for a smooth transition to ICD-10. If ICD-10 isn’t a priority in your organization yet, it should quickly rise to the top of the list as soon as possible.

There’s not enough incentive to keep health care data safe

The grim message following a breach that has endangered sensitive data belonging to 80 million current and former Anthem health insurance customers is that we can only expect more health care data breaches in the future.