Cardiology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Conquer Cath Placement With Ease

Question: When the patient was prepped and anesthetized, my provider introduced a catheter through their skin (percutaneously) and moved a guidewire into the peripheral artery under fluoroscopic guidance. They advanced the tip of the catheter into the coronary artery and then injected contrast material through the catheter for angiography. The catheter was then placed in the bypass graft and contrast material was injected for angiography. The provider removed the catheter and applied pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding. How should I report this procedure?

North Carolina Subscriber

Answer: You should report 93455 (Catheter placement in coronary artery(s) for coronary angiography, including intraprocedural injection(s) for coronary angiography, imaging supervision and interpretation; with catheter placement(s) in bypass graft(s) (internal mammary, free arterial, venous grafts) including intraprocedural injection(s) for bypass graft angiography).

Don’t miss: The provider who performs imaging supervision and interpretation for this procedure should report 93455.