Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: My anesthesiologist recently placed a nontunneled central venous pressure (CVP) line to monitor a 57-year-old patient undergoing a renal transplant. I've heard that I might be able to separately report the line placement for this procedure. Is this true?

Oklahoma Subscriber

Answer: Even though the physician also uses the line to gain IV access and to monitor the patient's blood volume, a CVP line is not included in the base value for anesthesia services and may be billed separately. If the patient is over 5 years of age, you will report 36556 (Insertion of non-tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter; age 5 years or older).

Note that some payers may require you to append modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service) to this service.

For a list of other services that are not included in the base value, review the second paragraph of the Anesthesia Guidelines in your CPT manual.