CPT Knowledgebase - Jan 6, 2023
For codes 37182 (insertion of transvenous intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(s) [TIPS]) and 37183 (revision of TIPS), the Summer 2010 issue of the Clinical Examples in Radiology (p 2) provides the following instructions: The ultrasound guidance for vascular access performed for the evaluation of a potential access site is separately reported as the ultrasound guidance was not valued into the TIPS insertion or revision codes (37182 and 37183) when these codes were developed. Add-on code 76937, Ultrasound guidance for vascular access requiring ultrasound evaluation of potential access sites, documentation of selected vessel patency, concurrent real-time ultrasound visualization of vascular needle entry, with permanent recording and reporting (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure), requires that a permanent recorded image(s) of the vascular access site is included in the patient record, as well as a documented description of the process within the procedure report. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to report code 76937 for instances when ultrasound is used only to identify a vessel or mark a skin entry point. Code 76937 was created as an add-on code to report ultrasound guidance for vascular access that is provided in conjunction with another procedure for which ultrasound is not inherent. This code was intended to be reported by the physician who is performing the interventional procedure and providing ultrasound imaging services for vascular access. If ultrasound guidance for vascular access meets the criteria for vascular access, does this fall under "all associated imaging guidance," or is it appropriate to report code 76937 per the instructions from the Clinical Examples in Radiology because it was not included in the value when the code was created?To view the Official AMA answer and 1000s more like this:
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