Help!!!!
I am at a new facility and there is some crazy coding going on regarding EKOS catheter procedures. This procedure is new to me so naturally I have been trying to get up to speed on the what it is and how it works.
My understanding is an EKOS catheter is coded just like any other infusion catheter procedure involving a thromobolytic infusion.
For example
Reviewing a dictation of procedure of intial day of therapy would include insertion of EKOS cathter and tpa(thromobytic) infusion parameters. 37211 (A) or 37212 (V)
Subsequent day brought into lab for follow-up, I would expect to see status of therapy and wether or not infusion continued or discontinued. 37213 continue, 37214 cessation.
How is this different then if a procedure was done the same way with the use of a standard infusion therapy catheter.
Are they not coded the same?
Currently I have a physican that tried to use an EKOS catheter but could not pass the ultrasonic wire into the problematic vessel so she left the outer sheath of the EKOS catheter in place and ran an infusion drip like you would in a regular infusion catheter. I ask for clarification of her dicatation or lack thereof and she is arguing about charging this as a EKOS procedure. I stated that is is coded the same whether you use the EKOS catheter or not. She disagress, she states that there is a different charge/code for the EKOS procedure.
So.....
Currently what I am seeing is initial day insertion being coded 37211 or 37212
Then the subsequent day there is cath placement and angiogram coding/charge being inputed for 75710/36005 instead of 37213. My understaning is this incorrect. should be 37213
Additionally if the patient is brought down and the physician decided to d/c therapy , pull catheter out and do an intervention there is no mention of the d/c of therapy or removal of infusion catheter. Just a dictation of the intervention. So in this scenario can I code 37214 even though it is not mentioned in the procedure dictation. But if I look in patients chart the infusion is noted to be d/c'd the morning of the final cath lab procedure.
The above physician states if she does and intervention this the therapy is d/c. I told here I cannot assume this is what you are doing you need to document what you have done. Physician not happy.
So to summarize what is the difference in coding for a EKOS infusion therapy case as opposed to a NON EKOS cather infusion therapy case. This is all non coronary thrombolytic infusion. Please share your thoughts.
What needs to be in the dictation for correct coding. or can I use information gathered from a progress note on floor to use for coding in the procedure room.
any help would be appreicated.. Feel like I am rocking a boat over here..
I am at a new facility and there is some crazy coding going on regarding EKOS catheter procedures. This procedure is new to me so naturally I have been trying to get up to speed on the what it is and how it works.
My understanding is an EKOS catheter is coded just like any other infusion catheter procedure involving a thromobolytic infusion.
For example
Reviewing a dictation of procedure of intial day of therapy would include insertion of EKOS cathter and tpa(thromobytic) infusion parameters. 37211 (A) or 37212 (V)
Subsequent day brought into lab for follow-up, I would expect to see status of therapy and wether or not infusion continued or discontinued. 37213 continue, 37214 cessation.
How is this different then if a procedure was done the same way with the use of a standard infusion therapy catheter.
Are they not coded the same?
Currently I have a physican that tried to use an EKOS catheter but could not pass the ultrasonic wire into the problematic vessel so she left the outer sheath of the EKOS catheter in place and ran an infusion drip like you would in a regular infusion catheter. I ask for clarification of her dicatation or lack thereof and she is arguing about charging this as a EKOS procedure. I stated that is is coded the same whether you use the EKOS catheter or not. She disagress, she states that there is a different charge/code for the EKOS procedure.
So.....
Currently what I am seeing is initial day insertion being coded 37211 or 37212
Then the subsequent day there is cath placement and angiogram coding/charge being inputed for 75710/36005 instead of 37213. My understaning is this incorrect. should be 37213
Additionally if the patient is brought down and the physician decided to d/c therapy , pull catheter out and do an intervention there is no mention of the d/c of therapy or removal of infusion catheter. Just a dictation of the intervention. So in this scenario can I code 37214 even though it is not mentioned in the procedure dictation. But if I look in patients chart the infusion is noted to be d/c'd the morning of the final cath lab procedure.
The above physician states if she does and intervention this the therapy is d/c. I told here I cannot assume this is what you are doing you need to document what you have done. Physician not happy.
So to summarize what is the difference in coding for a EKOS infusion therapy case as opposed to a NON EKOS cather infusion therapy case. This is all non coronary thrombolytic infusion. Please share your thoughts.
What needs to be in the dictation for correct coding. or can I use information gathered from a progress note on floor to use for coding in the procedure room.
any help would be appreicated.. Feel like I am rocking a boat over here..
