Radiology Coding Alert

Central, tunneled, and other key terms narrow the list of coding options.You've got a baker's dozen of central venous catheter insertion codes to choose from: 36555-36571. Simplify sorting through these 13 codes by answering five essential questions.1. Do 36565 and 36566 Apply?In the (relatively uncommon) case when the physician inserts a tunneled central venous access (CVA) device requiring two catheters with two different access sites (also known as a Tesio catheter or double catheter access device), you can narrow your code selection to just two codes:36565, Insertion of tunneled centrally inserted central venous access device, requiring 2 catheters via 2 separate venous access sites; without subcutaneous port or pump (e.g., Tesio type catheter)36566, Insertion of tunneled centrally inserted central venous access device, requiring 2 catheters via 2 separate venous access sites; with subcutaneous port(s). "Using two catheters is more common for dialysis," says Scott Groudine, MD, with Albany Medical Center [...]