CPT Update: Improve Cash Flow With New Vein Ablation Codes

Fresh radiology procedure codes for 2005 focus on vessel imaging

If you're having trouble securing OATS reimbursement or describing upper GI endoscopies, you're in luck for 2005 - the new CPT codes for next year have officially arrived. Among the changes are a host of new and more specific codes for radiological imaging, treatment for gastrointestinal conditions, and arthroscopy procedures.

Ax the Unlisted-Procedure Code for Ablation Therapy
Your days of reporting 37799 (Unlisted procedure, vascular surgery) for venous ablation procedures are over. CPT introduces four new codes for the procedures, two for those performed with radiofrequency and two for those performed with lasers.
"Probably the most important new codes for facilities will be those added to imaging services," says Kenneth Wolfgang, MT(ASCP), CPC, CPC-H, chief executive officer of Wolfgang Associates Inc.
You can now report the radiofrequency procedures using 36475 (Endovenous ablation therapy of incompetent vein, extremity, inclusive of all imaging guidance and monitoring, percutaneous, radiofrequency; first vein treated) and add-on code +37476 (... second and subsequent veins treated in a single extremity, each through separate access sites), and the laser procedures with 36478 (Endovenous ablation therapy of incompetent vein, extremity, inclusive of all imaging guidance and monitoring, percutaneous, laser; first vein treated) and add-on code +36479 (... second and subsequent veins treated in a single extremity, each through separate access sites).
Sow Your OATS With Permanent Scope Codes
Thanks to a handful of new arthroscopy codes, you may have a better shot at getting stubborn payers to reimburse these costly procedures.
"The OATS procedure codes are much needed, as coders have had to deal with category III codes in the past for these procedures, which have made it difficult to get payment from various insurers," says Annette Grady, CPC, CPC-H, healthcare consultant at Eide Bailly LLP and American Academy of Professional Coders officer on the Academy National Advisory Board.
Old Way: You used to report osteochondral autograft transfer system (OATS) procedures with these three category III codes: 0012T (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical, implantation of osteochondral graft[s] for treatment of articular surface defect; autografts), 0013T (... allografts), and 0014T (Meniscal transplantation, medial or lateral, knee [any method]).
New Way: Come Jan. 1, 2005, you'll describe these procedures with three new codes. Instead of 0012T, you'll report 29866 (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; osteochondral autograft[s] [e.g., mosaicplasty] [includes harvesting of the autograft]). You'll replace 0013T with 29867 (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; osteochondral allograft [e.g., mosaicplasty]). And in lieu of 0014T, you'll use 29868 (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; meniscal transplantation [includes arthrotomy for meniscal insertion], medial or lateral), Grady says.
Check Specific Codes for Perineum Debridement
When the physician performs deep debridement of the external genitalia, perineum and/or [...]

- Published on 2004-11-22