CPT® Update: Upgrade Your Vascular Surgery Code Choices for 2021

Why This Topic Matters

These updates affect how common vascular surgery services are categorized for reporting in 2021. Readers can quickly identify whether the article covers the CPT® changes relevant to their workflow, especially temporary code updates and ventricular assist device reporting.

Article Sections

1. Overhaul Percutaneous VAD Coding

   Summarizes the 2021 update theme for percutaneous ventricular assist device reporting and the broad areas affected by the revision. It also introduces the code family discussed in this section.

2. Service

   Introduces the procedural categories covered by the revised ventricular assist device reporting discussion. The section frames the article’s focus on selecting among different service types.

3. A/V choice

   Addresses the access-related aspect of the ventricular assist device discussion and explains that documentation review is part of the article’s guidance context. It highlights that the update centers on clarifying distinctions within the code family.

4. Laterality

   Covers the laterality-focused portion of the 2021 ventricular assist device update. The section explains that the article distinguishes the relevant reporting choices by body side.

5. No change

   Describes the portion of the article that notes some previously established guidance remains in place despite the code update. It places the ventricular assist device changes in context for same-session replacement scenarios.

6. Grasp New ‘Temporary’ Code Choices

   Introduces the Category III portion of the article and explains that 2021 includes added and deleted temporary code options. It provides a broad overview of the temporary code topic for vascular surgery reporting.

7. T code refresher

   Explains the general category of temporary codes discussed in the article and the reason they are included in the update. The section gives background on where these codes fit in the CPT framework.

8. New codes

   Lists the newly added Category III code options discussed for 2021 and places them in a vascular surgery context. The section also notes a general clinical area addressed by one of the new options.