Thoracostomy (32551) and Thoracentesis/Pleural Fluid Procedures (32554-32557) (November 2012)
November 2012 pages 3-5
Thoracostomy (32551) and Thoracentesis/Pleural Fluid Procedures (32554-32557)
For CPT 2013, the Respiratory System section of the CPT code set contains revised thoracentesis codes, new percutaneous catheter and chest tube codes, and clarification of the open surgical chest tube placement code to better explain the procedural approaches. During the Relative Value Scale Update Committee's (RUC's) Five-Year Review when the Joint CPT/RUC Workgroup screened codes frequently reported together, it was noted that ultrasound guidance code 76942, Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement (eg, biopsy, aspiration, injection, localization device), imaging supervision and interpretation, was performed in conjunction with the...
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