Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Question: Is 37201 appropriate when the patient comes to the infusion center with a clotted PICC line, and the doctor orders repeated flushing using TPA?

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Answer: For this service, you should report 36593 (Declotting by thrombolytic agent of implanted vascular access device or catheter). Note that use of a thrombolytic agent -- such as TPA (tissue plasminogen activator) -- is a requirement for this code.

You should not report 37201 (Transcatheter therapy, infusion for thrombolysis other than coronary) because this code describes thrombolytic therapy of a vessel. Your report describes TPA infusion of a device (36593) rather than a vessel (37201).