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Report G0275 and G0278 for Nonselective Procedures

Published on Sun Aug 31, 2003

If you were waiting to find out how to bill G0275 and G0278 for renal and iliac angiography the answer is finally here: CMS says to report these codes for nonselective procedures only beginning Oct. 1.
 
In a program memorandum (AB-03-119) released Aug. 8 CMS revises the code definitions as follows effective Oct. 1:

  • G0275 - Renal angiography non-selective one or both kidneys performed at the same time as cardiac catheterization and/or coronary angiography includes positioning or placement of any catheter in the abdominal aorta at or near the origins (ostia) of the renal arteries injection of dye flush aortogram production of permanent images and radiologic supervision and interpretation (list separately in addition to primary procedure)

  • G0278 - Iliac and/or femoral artery angiography non-selective bilateral or ipsilateral to catheter insertion performed at the same time as cardiac catheterization and/or coronary angiography includes positioning or placement of the catheter in the distal aorta or ipsilateral femoral or iliac artery injection of dye production of permanent images and radiologic supervision and interpretation (list separately in addition to primary procedure).
     
    The clear definition in the CMS release ends months of speculation among cardiology coders over whether they should report these codes to Medicare for both selective and nonselective renal and iliac angiography during heart catheterizations.
     
    The American College of Cardiology (ACC) worked for several months with CMS to come up with better descriptors for the renal and iliac angiography codes says Anne Marie Bicha the ACC's director of regulatory and legal affairs. "CMS accepted the ACC's revised descriptors with a retroactive date to Jan. 1 2003 " she says. 
     
    This means that you can send in claims for renal and iliac angiography during heart caths the physician performed from the beginning of 2003.You can also rebill for angiographies that were actually selective. Practices could see an increase in revenue for these studies because the G codes pay about $12 each but the reimbursement for selective renal and iliac studies (codes 36245 36245 75724-26) totals about $500 coding experts say.  
     
    Also CMS does not address changing the fees for these codes - just the definitions.
     
    Remember that G0275 and G0278 are for Medicare only. You should consult private payers for specific directions on reporting these services. .

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