Radiology Coding Alert

Question: Our radiologist performed a left brachial approach carotid/cerebral arteriogram. She selected the right brachiocephalic artery and left carotid. Which code should we report?

Michigan Subscriber

Answer: Because the radiologist had to move through the aorta to select the appropriate arteries, you should report 36215 (Selective catheter placement, arterial system; each first order thoracic or brachiocephalic branch, within a vascular family) for both procedures.

You should report one unit of 36215 for the left carotid artery, and 36215-59 (Distinct procedural service) for the brachiocephalic artery, assuming that your radiologist did not subsequently move further into the carotid. In addition, you should report the appropriate radiological supervision and interpretation code based on the vascular territory that the physician studies.