Cardiology Coding Alert

Identify the vessels involved before you make your coding decision.CPT's parenthetical notes following 92980-+92981 (Transcatheter placement of an intracoronary stent[s] ...) offer rules for proper reporting that you can't afford to miss. The notes reveal the following key points on what is and isn't included.Include These Same-Artery ServicesCPT states that coronary angioplasty (92982-+92984, Percutaneous transluminal coronary balloon angioplasty ...) and/or atherectomy (92995-+92996, Percutaneous transluminal coronary atherectomy, by mechanical or other method, with or without balloon angioplasty ...) in the same artery as the stent placement is not separately reportable for the same encounter.Separate Vessel Could Mean Separately ReportableIf your cardiologist performs stenting in one coronary vessel, and angioplasty or atherectomy procedures in a different coronary vessel, the angioplasty or atherectomy is not included in the stent code. So you may report those services separately.Crucial: "When coding interventions on more than one coronary vessel during the same session, the first code [...]