Wiki Unsuccessful PICC line insertion attempt

[CourtneyRay14]

If a patient has two unsuccessful attempts at PICC line insertion during the same visit in the same arm how is this charged?

 

[April2Sharp]

So the 3rd attempt was successful? if so, only one unit of a single code 36556 would be reported for the procedure successfully accomplished regardless of the numerous attempts. The unsuccessful attempts are considered part of the successful procedure. Sometimes several unsuccessful attempts are made during the same operative episode to perform a procedure and finally the last attempt is successful. Therefore, the first attempt would not be viewed as a reduced or cancelled separate procedure but just as a failed first attempt at a single procedure that was later successfully completed.