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Cardiac Surgery Coding HELP!!!

K

Kimberl1983

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7
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Forest Hill, MD
I have a provider that is billing for "subxiphoid removal of chest tube" and I cannot find a code anywhere for this approach nor am I sure this should be billed because I am worried it is part of the global period after cardiac surgery.

Thanks so much!!!
 
The removal code is not limited by location. If it is a non tunneled catheter there is no code for removal. Report with an E/M if documentation permits. If it is a tunneled catheter use code 32552. Hope this helps.
 
Agree with the post above, subxiphoid does not sound like an 'approach', but rather a location of the tube. I'd add that if the chest tube was placed as part of the cardiac surgery, then the removal would likely be global to the surgery and not separately payable unless it required a return to the OR.
 
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