tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2015 Issue 2

You Be the Coder: Bundle Same Vascular Family and Approach

Question: Can I bill 36215 and 36216 together for a first and second order thoracic branch arterial catheter placement? Or should I use +36218 with 36215 because 36216 includes 36215 (because the physician went through the first branch to get to the second)? Kentucky Subscriber Answer: The appropriate code choice will depend on the documentation for the specific case and the specific vessels involved, but because you mention going through one vessel to get to the other, 36216 (Selective catheter placement, arterial system; initial second order thoracic or brachiocephalic branch, within a vascular family) is the most likely candidate...

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