Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: I’m new to cardiology. Could you please explain the difference between codes 37211 and 37212?

Alaska Subscriber

Answer: You should report 37211 (Transcatheter therapy, arterial infusion for thrombolysis other than coronary or intracranial, any method, including radiological supervision and interpretation, initial treatment day) for transcatheter therapy, arterial infusion for thrombolysis other than coronary or intracranial, any method. Code 37211 includes radiological supervision and interpretation. You should report 37211 on the initial treatment day.>

Code 37211 example: The cardiologist inserts a catheter into an artery to infuse a thrombolytic medication in the area of a vessel where a clot is present. The cardiologist performs this therapy on an artery other than a coronary or non–intracranial artery. He performs the radiological supervision and interpretation that he uses to access the vessel. This was the initial treatment day. You should report 37211 for this service.>

On the other hand, you should report 37212 (Transcatheter therapy, venous infusion for thrombolysis, any method, including radiological supervision and interpretation, initial treatment day) when the cardiologist provides transcatheter therapy, venous infusion, for thrombolysis using any method. You should also report 37212 for the initial treatment day.>

Code 37212 example: The cardiologist inserts a catheter into a vein to infuse a thrombolytic medication in the area of a vessel where a clot is present. He performs this therapy in a vein and also performs the radiological supervision and interpretation he uses to access the vessel. This was the initial treatment day. You should report 37212 for this service.>

Don’t miss: For both codes 37211 and 37212, the cardiologist uses a catheter to infuse a thrombolytic medication in a vessel where a clot is present. However, with 37211, the cardiologist inserts the catheter into an artery other than a coronary or non-intracranial artery. And with 37212, he inserts the catheter into a vein.