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Radiology Coding Alert

CPT® 2013:

36221 to +36228 Shake Up Carotid and Vertebral Angiography in the New Year

Published on Wed Oct 31, 2012

Heed the hierarchy, or denials are guaranteed.One of the biggest coding changes radiology practices will face in 2013 is a new series of codes specific to cervicocerebral angiography. Anatomically, these codes relate to vessels in the neck and head, says Terry A. Fletcher, BS, CPC, CCS-P, CCS, CEMC, CCC, CMSCS, CMC, of California-based Terry Fletcher Consulting. 2012 comparison: The new codes each include angiography and radiological supervision and interpretation (RS&I). This is a significant shift from 2012 coding, which required separate codes for catheter placement and RS&I, Fletcher notes. Because of this change, CPT® 2013 will delete angiography codes 75650 and 75660-75685 for the carotid, cerebral, vertebral, and cervical arteries, says Julie Graham, BA, CPC, coder and compliance specialist for Concentra in Texas.What's included: Codes 36221-36226, which are primary rather than add-on codes, include vessel access, catheter placement, any contrast injections, fluoroscopy, RS&I, and arterial closure by pressure or device. [...]
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