Cardiology Coding Alert

Radiological supervision and interpretation is included, too.

CPT^® 2014 has introduced a new code to report transcatheter stent placement in either the intrathoracic common carotid artery or innominate artery using an open cervical carotid approach. A major feature of this code is that it is specific to retrograde treatment, which means going against the flow of blood in the vessel. Any angioplasty or radiological guidance required for the service is also included.

The new code is 37217 (Transcatheter placement of an intravascular stent[s], intrathoracic common carotid artery or innominate artery by retrograde treatment, via open ipsilateral cervical carotid artery exposure, including angioplasty, when performed, and radiological supervision and interpretation).

Be sure to keep the following codes off of your 37217 claim when performed on the same side of the body:

• 35201, Repair blood vessel, direct; neck
• 35458, Transluminal balloon angioplasty, open; brachiocephalic trunk or branches, each vessel
• 36221, Non-selective catheter placement, thoracic aorta, with angiography of the extracranial carotid, vertebral, and/or intracranial vessels, unilateral or bilateral, and all associated radiological supervision and interpretation, includes angiography of the cervicocerebral arch, when performed
• 36222-36227, Selective catheter placement …
• 75962, Transluminal balloon angioplasty, peripheral artery other than renal, or other visceral artery, iliac or lower extremity, radiological supervision and interpretation.