Radiology Coding Alert
Two Essentials For Dialysis Circuit Imaging
For the new dialysis circuit codes that will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2017, you should remember two key facts:
What services are covered? The codes 36901, 36902, and 36903 aren’t restricted to a single service alone. Listed below are the services that these codes cover:
Select the highest level of service: When submitting a claim with 36901, 36902, or 36903, you should choose a code depending upon the highest level of service that your radiologist provides. This is no exception to the general rules that apply for hierarchy in codes.
Example: If your physician performed angiography, angioplasty, and stenting in the peripheral segment, you’ll report only 36903. This code is inclusive of all three services. Remember, you should not report 36901, 36902, and 36903 together.
Remember: Code 36902 includes services described in 36901 plus transluminal balloon angioplasty in peripheral segment of dialysis circuit. Similarly, code 36903 includes services in code 36902 and transcatheter stent placement in peripheral dialysis circuit.
The three codes for thrombectomy/thrombolysis (36904, 36905, and 36906) have a progressive hierarchy structure similar to 36901-36903, combining various services and building from a main code and then offering comprehensive angioplasty and stent options for the peripheral dialysis segment.
Also: The highest level of service applies once again for codes +36907 and +36908. Code +36907 covers angioplasty, and +36908 covers both angioplasty and stenting. In addition, the radiological services covered in codes 36901 to 36903 also apply to the add-on central segment codes.
Submit one unit only once per session: You report only one unit of codes 36902 or 36903 per session of the procedure. Regardless of the following parameters, you restrict yourself to only one unit for one session:
The same applies to other codes including +36909 where you code once per session regardless of the number of branches involved.
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