tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2003 Issue 12

Reader Question: Use Modifiers for Multiple Catheter Attempts

Question: The surgeon must place a central catheter (36489). After unsuccessfully attempting to place the catheter on one side of the anatomy, he places it on the other side. Can we bill for the extra effort?Michigan Subscriber Answer: You have two possible solutions here, and both will require that you provide the payer with substantial documentation to justify your claim. The first choice is to report one unit of 36489* (Placement of central venous catheter [subclavian, jugular, or other vein] [e.g., for central venous pressure, hyper-alimentation, hemodialysis, or chemotherapy]; percutaneous, over age 2) with modifier -53...

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