Cardiology Coding Alert
Malignant Ventricular Arrhythmia Goes Unspecified
Question: Should I use ICD-9 code 198.89 (Secondary malignant neoplasm of other specified sites) for malignant ventricular arrhythmia? North Carolina Subscriber Answer: In this case the word "malignant" should be taken in the context of tending to become progressively worse and to result in death. Without further information on the type of arrhythmia (e.g., fibrillation or tachycardia), you should use the general arrhythmia code of 427.9 (Cardiac dysrhythmia, unspecified). Answers to You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were provided by Martha Gerant, CPC, professional coder and reimbursement specialist for Cardiology Services in Olathe, Kan.; Jerome Williams Jr., MD, FACC, a cardiologist with Mid Carolina Cardiology in Charlotte, N.C.; Cynthia Swanson, RN, CPC, a cardiology coding consultant with Seim, Johnson, Sestak and Quist in Omaha, Neb.; Sandy Fuller, CPC, a cardiology coding and reimbursement specialist in Abilene, Texas; and Anne Karl, RHIA, CCS-P, CPC, coding and compliance specialist at St. Paul Heart Clinic in Mendota Heights, Minn.
Cardiology Coding Alert
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New Pacer Codes Bundle Device Implants
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Post this handy list, which includes the code descriptions and the current relative value units [...] - Fee Schedule Shows Diagnostic Procedure Reductions
Under the 2003 fee schedule, which CMS published in the Dec. 31, 2002, Federal Register, [...] - You Be the Coder:
Coding Abdominal Aortagram with Runoff
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Reader Question:
Use Modifier -76 Rather Than Modifier -25 for Restenting
Question: One of our physicians stented a patient's proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LD) [...] - Reader Question:
Use New Code for Bilateral Iliac Wall Graft Stenting
Question: Do 37205 (Transcatheter placement of an intravascular stent[s], [non-coronary vessel], percutaneous; initial vessel) and [...] - Reader Question:
Append Modifier -59 for Temporary Pacemaker
Question: Our cardiologist performed a left-heart catheterization (LHC) on a patient. During the procedure, he [...] - Reader Question:
Malignant Ventricular Arrhythmia Goes Unspecified
Question: Should I use ICD-9 code 198.89 (Secondary malignant neoplasm of other specified sites) for [...]
