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Radiology Coding Alert

Coding Update:

Say Farewell to NCCI's CVC Guidance Edit

Published on Mon Mar 08, 2004

The edit that bundled 76937 and 75998 was short-lived but caused quite a stir

Although the latest version of the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) has not yet been released, Radiology Coding Alert has learned that one major edit is on its way out.

According to the Society of Interventional Radiology's Web site, a future edition of the NCCI Edits will delete the edit that bundled +76937 (Ultrasound guidance for vascular access requiring ultrasound evaluation of potential access sites, documentation of selected vessel patency, concurrent realtime ultrasound visualization of vascular needle entry, with permanent recording and reporting [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) and +75998 (Fluoroscopic guidance for central venous access device placement, replacement [catheter only or complete], or removal [includes fluoroscopic guidance for vascular access and catheter manipulation, any necessary contrast injections through access site or catheter with related venography radiologic supervision and interpretation, and radiographic documentation of final catheter position] [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure]). This is great news to radiology practices.

These guidance codes made their debut in CPT Codes 2004, but NCCI didn't waste any time bundling them together.

In the future, radiologists who use both forms of guidance with the new venous access codes (36555-36597) can report both guidance codes as long as they can prove medical necessity and they fully document both procedures.

Radiology Coding Alert will continue to provide updates as the NCCI releases new editions.
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