AMA eBookNews, Aug. 16, 2011

News and updates

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Procedural coding changes for 2012 announced, 537 updates

Let the American Medical Association's CPT^® 2012 Changes Workshops help you prepare for the 537 procedural coding changes taking effect in 2012, including: 278 new, 139 revised, 98 deleted and 22 resequenced codes. Located in six convenient cities, these helpful workshops offer the instruction you need to keep pace with proper and compliant reimbursement. Register today!

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Coding Tips: Esophagogastric Fundoplasty

There is no specific CPT code for transoral incisionless fundoplasty (TIF). CPT code 43659, Unlisted laparoscopy procedure, stomach, should be reported.

Coding Q&A—Surgery: Cardiovascular System

Question: We use central venous access device ports in many patients to draw blood for laboratory testing. Is it appropriate to report code 96523, Irrigation of implanted venous access device for drug delivery systems, when drawing a blood specimen for laboratory testing (eg, code 85025 )?

Answer: No. From a CPT coding perspective, it is appropriate to report either code 36591, Collection of blood specimen from a completely implantable venous access device, or code 36592, Collection of blood specimen using established central or peripheral catheter, venous, not otherwise specified, for blood specimen collection from a central venous access port performed for a laboratory service (eg, 85025 ). The services described by codes 36591 and 36592 include irrigation of the venous access device. Therefore, it is not appropriate to additionally report code 96523, Irrigation of implanted venous access device for drug delivery systems.

To illustrate, the following is a description of service for code 36592:

The registered nurse reviews the patient chart for orders and obtains a medical history (eg, chemotherapy-related history). The patient is greeted, gowned, and positioned for a blood draw. The blood draw is completed by the nurse, who (1) draws a 10-cc syringe full to discard, (2) draws a second syringe to collect the blood specimen, and (3) flushes the line. The nurse labels the blood specimen and places it in the appropriate container for transport to the clinical laboratory.

2011 Catalog

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