Radiology Coding Alert

'Central' vs. 'peripheral' vessel know-how defuses 36555-36571 confusion. CPT may have 13 central venous access (CVA) device and catheter insertion codes, but you don't have to feel unlucky when you have to choose among them for your interventional radiologist's claim. If you follow the four steps below, you can feel confident you've found the best option for your case. Step 1: Narrow Choices by Identifying Catheter Type The first thing you need to do when choosing a CVA code is look at the type of catheter your physician used: a tunneled catheter, a non-tunneled device, or a peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC), says Sundae Yomes, CPC, coder at HCA Physician Services in Las Vegas. Caution: You should never assume " your radiologist's report should state explicitly what he inserted. Non-tunneled: If your radiologist places the line percutaneously for short-term use, he probably uses a non-tunneled catheter: • 36555 -- Insertion [...]