General Surgery Coding Alert

Question: What is the correct fluoroscopy code for catheter placement - 76000 or 76003?

Illinois Subscriber

Answer: To adjust or confirm appropriate placement of a catheter or other device (IV port, pacemaker, etc.), you should select 76000 (Fluoroscopy [separate procedure], up to one hour physician time, other than 71023 or 71034 [e.g., cardiac fluoroscopy]). But if the surgeon provides formal contrast x-ray studies as a part of the procedure to produce films with written interpretation and report, the fluoroscopy is already included, and you cannot bill separately for it.
 
Code 76003 (Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement [e.g., biopsy, aspiration, injection, localization device]) describes fluoroscopy to locate a target location such as a lesion prior to needle placement for biopsy, aspiration, etc. Generally, the physician has confirmed the existence of the target mass or lesion prior to use of fluoroscopy for needle guidance.