Advanced Search

Cardiology Coding Alert

News You Can Use:

AMA Releases 2005 CPT Category III Codes

Published on Tue Aug 24, 2004

You'll have to learn two new codes that don't conform to the usual rules by the time Jan. 1 rolls around - and getting cozy with them now will ease your winter.

The American Medical Association (AMA) Web site lists the new 2005 category III codes July 1. The following codes start their temporary tenure Jan. 1:

  • 0075T - Transcatheter placement of extracranial vertebral or intrathoracic carotid artery stent(s), including radiologic supervision and interpretation, percutaneous; initial vessel

  • 0076T - ... each additional vessel.

    New Codes Replace Carotid Artery Stenting Category III Codes

    Come Jan. 1, these codes will oust existing category III codes for IDE trials of carotid artery stenting:

  • 0005T - Transcatheter placement of extracranial cerebrovascular artery stent(s), percutaneous; initial vessel

  • +0006T - ... each additional vessel (list separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
  • 0007T - Transcatheter placement of extracranial cerebrovascular artery stent(s), percutaneous, radiological supervision and interpretation, each vessel.

    Now you should report 0005T for the actual placement of the stent initial vessel, plus 0007T for the radiological supervision and interpretation of the procedure, says Happiness Miller, RN, an auditor with the cardiac catheterization lab in Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, Ky. "Then if an additional vessel of that nature was also done at the same case, you should report 0006T, plus 0007T would be reported, and so on."

    But come January you will have to contend with 0075T and 0076T. "It appears that the radiological supervision and interpretation has been built in with the procedure itself," Miller says.

    Be on the lookout: In November, the AMA will release new category I codes for carotid stenting in addition to category III codes for other purposes. These new codes may impact how you use 0075T and 0076T.

    "T" codes represent emerging technology, services, and procedures. They may evolve into a category I code, depending on usage, clinical efficacy, and FDA approval. After five years, the codes either graduate to category I or receive approval to continue their status as information collectors in category III.


    • Other Articles in this issue of

    Cardiology Coding Alert

    View All