CPT Knowledgebase - Nov 3, 2021

In the CPT 2021 code set, the parenthetical note for code 33025 states Do not report 33020, 33025 in conjunction with 32551, if pleural drain/chest tube is placed on the ipsilateral side. In addition, the parenthetical note for code 32551 states Do not report 32551 in conjunction with 33020, 33025, if pleural drain/chest tube is placed on the ipsilateral side. A surgeon performed a pericardial window and partial resection through a midline incision over the xiphoid. He placed drainage tubes into the pleura bilaterally through two separate stab incisions. In this clinical scenario, would it be appropriate to report code 32551 with modifiers 50 and 59 appended, based on the parenthetical notes in the CPT 2021 code set?

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