Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: My cardiologist performed a stent CX and PTA/stent to the left subclavian artery on a non-Medicare patient. How should I report this?


Florida Subscriber

Answer: You should report the stent to the left subclavian artery as 37205 (Transcatheter placement of an intravascular stent[s] [except coronary, carotid, and vertebral vessel], percutaneous; initial vessel) and 75960 (Transcatheter introduction of intravascular stent[s] [except coronary, carotid, and vertebral vessel], percutaneous and/or open, radiological supervision and interpretation, each vessel).

You should also include 36215-59 (Selective catheter placement, arterial system; each first order thoracic or brachiocephalic branch, within a vascular family; distinct procedural service) for the cath placement from the femoral approach.

If the PTA was "therapeutic," but significant stenosis remained or dissection occurred and your cardiologist clearly documents this in his report, you can also code 35475 (Transluminal balloon angioplasty, percutaneous; brachiocephalic trunk or branches, each vessel) and 75962 (Transluminal balloon angioplasty, peripheral artery, radiological supervision and interpretation). You will need a specific diagnosis for these codes not related to coronary procedure.

Also, you should report the stent to the circumflex coronary artery using 92980 (Transcatheter placement of an intracoronary stent[s], percutaneous, with or without other therapeutic intervention, any method; single vessel).