Cardiology Coding Alert

Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer. Question: How should I code "the right renal artery was sub-selectively engaged and found to be patent. No renal arteries are identified on flush shot aortogram." Should this be 36245 (Selective catheter placement, arterial system; each first order abdominal, pelvic, or lower extremity artery branch, within a vascular family), 75722 (Angiography, renal, unilateral, selective [including flush aortogram], radiological supervision and interpretation) with modifier -26 (Professional component) appended and 75625 (Aortography, abdominal, by serialography, radiological supervision and interpretation) with modifier -26? Florida Subscriber         Answer: The key word here is "sub-selectively." For you to code for the catheter placement 36245, the catheter must "selectively" engage the renal artery. Since this is not the case, you would code 36200 (Introduction of catheter, aorta) with only 75625 appended with modifier -26 as the interpretation.