Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: Once the patient was appropriately prepped and anesthetized, my provider made a small incision through the skin to puncture the occluded femoral artery. They then introduced a guidewire through the opening and used it to introduce the catheter. My provider used arteriography as an imaging guidance, and using the guidewire, introduced a balloon catheter into the artery, advancing it to the site of occlusion. They confirmed its position using angiography. My provider then inflated the balloon at the occlusion site and expanded it against the lumen wall to increase the diameter of the vessel. Finally, my provider withdrew the catheter and sutured the site of the puncture in the blood vessel. What code should I report on my claim?

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Answer: Report 37224 (Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, femoral, popliteal artery(s), unilateral; with transluminal angioplasty) on your claim. This is the correct code because your provider performed endovascular revascularization of the femoral artery and performed a transluminal angioplasty.

Don’t miss: You have many revascularization codes to choose from, so ensure that you always check the documentation to choose the correct one.

For example, report 37225 (… with atherectomy, includes angioplasty within the same vessel, when performed) when your provider restores the blood supply in a unilateral femoral or popliteal artery through an endovascular, open, or percutaneous approach. Your provider will perform this procedure with an atherectomy. Code 37225 includes the angioplasty procedure when your provider performs it within the same vessel.

On the other hand, report 37226 (… with transluminal stent placement(s), includes angioplasty within the same vessel, when performed) when your provider restores the blood supply in a stenosed unilateral femoral or popliteal artery through an endovascular, open, or percutaneous approach with transluminal stent placement. They may also perform an angioplasty within the same vessel.

Finally, report 37227 (… with transluminal stent placement(s) and atherectomy, includes angioplasty within the same vessel, when performed) when your provider restores the blood supply in a stenosed unilateral femoral or popliteal artery through endovascular, open, or percutaneous approach with transluminal stent placement and with atherectomy, a surgical procedure to remove plaque from the blood vessel. They may also perform the angioplasty within the same vessel.