Radiology Coding Alert

Find Out Where the Radiology Experts Stand on NCCI 12.0

See why these angioplasty bundles make sense

You've got mail! Letters to the National Correct Coding Initiative posted on the American College of Radiology Web site give you an inside look at the reasoning behind certain angioplasty bundles and tell you when it's OK to override them.

Several months ago, the ACR and the Society of Interventional Radiology got a sneak peek at some potential NCCI Edits version 12.0 edits. In July 2005, CMS notified ACR that NCCI 12.0, effective Jan. 1, 2006, could include edits bundling brachiocephalic angioplasty codes 35475 and 35458 into intravascular stent placement codes 37215 and 37216. The reason: The value of the latter codes includes any necessary angioplasty. Stent placement code 0075T, though without an official value, should also include necessary angioplasty, CMS said.

CMS noted that you could break the bundle when the physician performs an angioplasty "on the brachiocephalic trunk or one of its branches other than the stented cervical carotid artery." The final version of NCCI 12.0 only included the 0075T/35458 and 0075T/35475 edits. ACR and SIR posted a response indicating that they're in full agreement with CMS for the reasons given.

You can find the letters on ACR's Web site at
www.acr.org/s_acr/sec.asp?CID=3625&DID=22920.

Other Articles in this issue of

Radiology Coding Alert

View All