CPT^® 32556, Under Introduction and Removal Procedures on the Lungs and Pleura

The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT^®) code 32556 as maintained by American Medical Association, is a medical procedural code under the range - Introduction and Removal Procedures on the Lungs and Pleura.

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Summary

Without the use of imaging guidance, the provider places a small tube through a small incision into the patient’s chest for drainage.

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Pigtail Catheter Placement for Spontaneous Pneumothorax

[QUOTE="Cynthia Hughes, post: 466350, member: 18048"] A pigtail catheter is a small bore catheter that is either inserted for drainage and removed (32554, 32555) or as you indicate, sutured in place t... [ Read More ]

Pigtail Catheter Placement for Spontaneous Pneumothorax

[QUOTE="elizabeth24, post: 466078, member: 15975"] ER physician inserted a pigtail catheter at 4th intercostal space and was sutured in place secondary to spontaneous pneumothorax. Is this going to be... [ Read More ]

CPT 32561 with 32557? Included? 32551 32557 32561 32562 tpa

When billing for tPA installation, is the insertion of the chest tube (whether open or closed) included? From what I read, it looks like you would bill both. Is this correct? Would it be appropriate t... [ Read More ]

imaging guidance vs ultrasound guidance

I will be sitting for my CPC on Aug 19. This question is from case 1 practice exam. The rationale states 32557 is the answer. In the CPT book, 32557 directs you to use 32550 if an indwelling tunneled ... [ Read More ]

Chest tube placement

From what I'm reading it's a 32551, a straight Chest Tube insertion and PneumoVac to re-inflate the lung. Definitely not a 32556 which has to be a tunneled cath which I don't see evidence of. The 32... [ Read More ]

Chest tube placement

Hi, I am having trouble discerning which cpt code to use for a right anterior chest tube placement, second intercostal space. A lot of the codes seem almost identical, can someone please help? The ... [ Read More ]

January >= Codes

20600 Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, small joint or bursa (eg, fingers, toes); without ultrasound guidance 20604 with ultrasound guidance, with permanent recording and reporting (Do no... [ Read More ]

CXR and Thoracentesis

We are having difficulites getting a 71020 or 71010 paid when billed with an E/M and Thoracentesis 32554-32556. We use a modifer 25 on E/M codes. We have billed the CXR with and without modifer 59 an... [ Read More ]

Coding Book Question 2011 vs 2013

I'm about to take my cpc exam for the second time, but all my text books are from 2011. I have purchased the practice exams and while taking them, I'm having trouble finding some of the codes. Perhaps... [ Read More ]

April

Hi All, Can you tell me if CPTs 32554 and 32556 can both be billed same DOS + same Dr.? Thank you ahead of time for your help on this.... [ Read More ]

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