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Cardiology Coding Alert

CPT 2010:

Add New AV Shunt Codes to Your Toolbox

Published on Mon Oct 26, 2009

Initial vs. additional access matters in 2010. Love them or hate them, the trend toward guidance-inclusive codes doesn't seem to be slowing. Case in point: CPT 2010 ousts 36145 (Introduction of needle or intracatheter; arteriovenous shunt created for dialysis [cannula, fistula, or graft]) and 75790(Angiography, arteriovenous shunt [e.g., dialysis patient], radiological supervision and interpretation) and instead instructs you to consider the following new surgical codes -- which include imaging: • 36147 -- Introduction of needle and/or catheter, arteriovenous shunt created for dialysis (graft/fistula); initial access with complete radiological evaluation of dialysis access, including fluoroscopy, image documentation and report (includes access of shunt, injection[s] of contrast, and all necessary imaging from the arterial anastomosis and adjacent artery through entire venous outflow including the inferior or superior vena cava) • +36148 -- ... additional access for therapeutic intervention (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure). Proper use: If the initial evaluation (36147) prompts [...]
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