Anesthesia Coding Alert

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).