Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: When the patient was appropriately prepped and anesthetized, my provider made an incision in the brachial artery and inserted a guidewire through it. They then inserted a guide catheter over the guidewire, moving it through the vascular system until they positioned the catheter at the opening to the coronary artery. My provider injected a dye and took fluoro­scopic images to examine the blood flow and placement of the catheter into the artery. They then advanced a balloon-tipped catheter into the stenosed area and inflated the balloon that flattens the plaque against the artery wall. My provider inserted a balloon-mounted catheter with a stent into the stenosed site. My provider removed all of the equipment, achieved hemostasis, and closed the wound in layers. Which code should I report on my claim?

North Dakota Subscriber

Answer: You should report 92928 (Percutaneous transcatheter placement of intracoronary stent(s), with coronary angioplasty when performed; single major coronary artery or branch) on your claim. This code includes angioplasty when performed. That means angioplasty is not required, but you should not report angioplasty separately when your provider performs it.