Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: The physician performed a pericardiocentesis and pericardial drainage. What CPT^® codes should I report for this?

Rhode Island Subscriber

Answer: You could report pericardiocentesis with 33016 (Pericardiocentesis, including imaging guidance, when performed). However, you must know the age of the patient to report the appropriate code.

For example, for percutaneous pericardial drainage with insertion of an indwelling catheter, with or without fluoroscopy and/or ultrasound guidance, in a patient 6 years old and older without congenital cardiac anomaly, report 33017 (Pericardial drainage with insertion of indwelling catheter, percutaneous, including fluoroscopy and/or ultrasound guidance, when performed; 6 years and older without congenital cardiac anomaly).

For the same procedure in a newborn through 5 years of age or in a patient of any age with congenital cardiac anomaly, you would report 33018 (Pericardial drainage with insertion of indwelling catheter, percutaneous, including fluoroscopy and/or ultrasound guidance, when performed; birth through 5 years of age or any age with congenital cardiac anomaly).