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Cardiology Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

You'll Struggle Coding Add-on Angiojet Alone

Published on Tue Jun 21, 2005

Question: I'm looking at the angiojet code and see that it's an add-on code. If a cardiologist performed an angiojet without doing PTCA or stent, should I still report the PTCA with a modifier to reflect that the cardiologist did not perform a PTCA, in order to report the angiojet add-on code correctly?


Florida Subscriber


Answer: No. Your cardiologist has to provide a stent or PTCA to report +92973 (Percutaneous transluminal coronary thrombectomy [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure]). This code must be used in conjunction with the following codes, according to a note in the CPT book:
 

  • 92980 - Transcatheter placement of an intracoronary stent(s), percutaneous, with or without other therapeutic intervention, any method; single vessel
     
  • 92982 - Percutaneous transluminal coronary balloon angioplasty; single vessel.

    Many payers have an edit that won't allow payment for angiojet due to 92980 or 92982 not being on the claim. You may try using the unlisted-procedure code (93799, Unlisted cardiovascular service or procedure) and request reimbursement equivalent to 92975 (Thrombolysis, coronary; by intracoronary infusion, including selective coronary angiography). However, this will require some determination.

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