Wiki Cabg done with a 36556

[dpumford]

HI! I would like to ask what you think on this!

I have a surgeon who always places a triple Lumen Catheter (36556) along with the placement of the output catheter.

The 36556 is not bundled but I am question the medical necessity..He always does this and I am not comfortable always coding for this. This is a remote Job I am doing and I have made my supervisor aware but have not been told not to stop coding this.

Any thoughts~

Thanks in advance

 

[R1CPC]

Take a look at the website below;
http://www.sts.org/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/STSCodingNews-Summer2004.pdf it's out dated but I believe the rules still apply. Hope that helps.

Intra-operative services included
in the cardiothoracic surgical
packages (if services are
provided during the operative
session)
? Insertion of
lines/catheters/cannulas for
access or monitoring
purposes (e.g., Swanz Ganz
catheter insertion, arterial line
insertions)
? Repair of cannula / line sites
(if related to the surgery)
? Chest tube insertion/removal
? Foley catheter
insertion/removal
? Temporary pacing wire
insertion/removal
? Post-operative pain
management by the surgeon
(e.g., insertion of pain
pumps, injection/ligation
intercostal nerves)
? Checking patency of grafts
(regardless of the method
used)
? Insertion of wound vacs for
wound care/management
? Access to the operative site
(i.e., cannot separately report
the approach such as
thoracotomy, thoracoscopy,
sternotomy, etc.)
? Closure of the surgical site
(layered closure, suturing,
bandages)
? Lysis of adhesions to obtain
access to the surgical