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Primary Care Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Update Your 2004 Central Venous Catheter Codes

Published on Thu Feb 19, 2004

Question: According to my coding guideline book, Medicare will pay 36489 separately, but the carrier didn't. Should I have used a modifier?

North Carolina Subscriber Answer: For 2004, CPT changed all the central venous catheter codes. Therefore, you should refile the claim using new code 36555 (Insertion of non-tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter; under 5 years of age) or new code 36556 (... age 5 years or older), based on the patient's age.

CPT 2004 deleted 36489 (Placement of central venous catheter [subclavian, jugular, or other vein] [e.g., for central venous pressure, hyperalimentation, hemodialysis, or chemotherapy]; percutaneous, over age 2).
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