Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Document Provider Involvement for Treatment Device Complexity

Published on Tue Sep 26, 2023

Question: What documentation is needed for codes 77332-77334? I was given some notes that include imaging and planning, but I wasn’t able to pull from the documentation whether the was simple, intermediate, or complex. Is the coding based on the planning, or must the document state what type of device was used (simple block, multiple block, irregular blocks, stents, wedges, etc.)?

AAPC Forum Participant

Answer: In this situation, the trick to identifying the right code to use is to understand the definitions of simple, intermediate, and complex treatment devices.

For 77332 (Treatment devices, design and construction; simple (simple block, simple bolus)), simple usually refers to devices which can be used on a number of patients including devices like non-custom boluses, vaginal cylinders, breast boards, and prostate templates.

For 77333 (… intermediate (multiple blocks, stents, bite blocks, special bolus)), intermediate refers to devices like bite blocks and testicular shields.

For 77334 (… complex (irregular blocks, special shields, compensators, wedges, molds or casts), complex indicates the device used was particular to an individual patient like a face mask, a multi lead collimator, or a custom-made bolus.

As these codes represent the professional component (the provider’s design of the device) and technical component (the provider’s final placement of the device) involved in the service, your documentation should include evidence of the provider’s direct involvement in both components.