You Be the Coder:
Internal Jugular Catheter Replacement
Published on Fri Jun 01, 2001
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.
Question: Our anesthesiologist replaced an internal jugular catheter because the old one failed. Would we bill this with an unlisted procedure code?
Montana Subscriber
Answer: If this is a simple catheter placement with removal or a cutdown, you can limit yourself to the unlisted procedure code (01999, unlisted anesthesia procedure[s]) or charge it as a CVP insertion (36489*, placement of central venous catheter [subclavian, jugular, or other vein] [e.g., for central venous pressure, hyperalimentation, hemodialysis, or chemotherapy]; percutaneous, over age 2) when the CVP catheter has been changed over a guide wire. If youre placing a Port-a-Cath, codes for placement, revision and removal apply: 36533 (insertion of implantable venous access device, with or without subcutaneous reservoir); 36534 (revision of implantable venous access device, and/or subcutaneous reservoir); and 36535 (removal of implantable venous access device, and/or subcutaneous reservoir).