General Surgery Coding Alert

Question: How can I get paid for inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement? Medicare is paying the hospital fee only.

South Carolina Subscriber

Answer: Be sure to report both portions of the service: The appropriate procedural code is 37620 (Interruption, partial or complete, of inferior vena cava by suture, ligation, plication, clip, extravascular, intra-vascular [umbrella device]), and you may report the associated radiological procedure separately using 75940 (Percutaneous placement of IVC filter, radiological supervision and interpretation).
 
Remember, however, that the surgeon may report the radiology portion of the procedure only if another physician (including the hospital radiologist) does not also provide an interpretation and report. And, when reporting 75940, you should append modifier -26 (Professional component) to show that the surgeon did not supply the equipment for the procedure. The hospital will bill separately to receive its payment portion for use of its equipment.