Advanced Search

Anesthesia Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Distinguish Between 00560 and 00566

Published on Sun Sep 12, 2004

Question: What are the primary differences between codes 00560 and 00566? What does the term "direct" coronary bypass grafting mean in 00566's descriptor?

Kentucky Subscriber

Answer: Code 00566 (Anesthesia for direct coronary artery bypass grafting without pump oxygenator) is specifically for procedures on the coronary arteries, such as a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), without the pump oxygenator. Report 00560 (Anesthesia for procedures on heart, pericardial sac, and great vessels of chest; without pump oxygenator) for all other heart procedures without the pump - for example, a stab wound to the heart. 
 
Some people refer to these cases as "off-bypass" because the anesthesiologist isn't using a cardiopulmonary bypass machine. The anesthesiologist's workload is much higher for cases that do not use the pump oxygenator. Code 00560 is 15 base units, while 00566 is 25 base units.
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Anesthesia Coding Alert

View All