ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert
Reader Questions:
Check Patient Age on Catheter Code
Published on Sun Jun 15, 2008
Question: A patient with Guillain-Barre syndrome presents to the ED. Notes indicate that the physician inserted a Quentin catheter. What CPT code best describes a Quentin catheter placement? Mississippi Subscriber Answer: Your code choice will depend on the patient's age. If the patient is less than 5 years old, report 36555 (Insertion of non-tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter; younger than 5 years of age) for the service. But if the patient is 5 or older, report 36556 (- age 5 years or older). Either way: Be sure to include 357.0 (Acute infective polyneuritis) to represent the patient's condition.
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