tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2023 Issue Q1

Reader Question: Pinpoint Age for Catheter Code Selection

Question: Our surgeon inserted a central venous access catheter in a 4-year-old patient’s internal jugular vein to administer medication. The catheter’s tip terminated in the subclavian. How should I code this service? Montana Subscriber Answer: You should report 36555 (Insertion of non-tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter; younger than 5 years of age) for this procedure. The patient’s age is key to code selection for catheter placement. For example, if your provider performed the same service on a patient aged five or more years, you would instead report 36556 (… age 5 years or older). The...

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