tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2008 Issue 8

Reader Questions: Check for Catheter Use on Thoracentesis Claims

Question: A patient with shortness of breath reports to the ED. The physician obtains pertinent historical information and performs an exam, including auscultation of the lungs, which sound muffled. He then taps on the patient's chest and notes a dull "thud." A chest x-ray confirms the presence of a large pleural effusion. Notes substantiate a level-four E/M. Based on the evaluation, the physician decides to perform thoracentesis. After the patient is prepped, the physician withdraws pleural fluid through a needle into a syringe and sends it to the laboratory for analysis. The lab results indicate the presence of...

To read the full article, sign in and subscribe to tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert.

Thank you for choosing Find-A-Code, please Sign In to remove ads.