tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2003 Issue 2

Reader Question: Bill Separately for Central Venous Line

Question: May we bill separately for a central venous line (36489) placed at the same time as a major procedure? I was taught that if the line was placed in the operating room, I could not bill. Tennessee SubscriberAnswer: Yes, you may bill 36489* (Placement of central venous catheter [subclavian, jugular, or other vein] [e.g., for central venous pressure, hyper-alimentation, hemodialysis, or chemotherapy]; percutaneous, over age 2) as a separate procedure with modifier -59 (Distinct procedural service) appended, when warranted. Note in addition that 36489 is modifier -51 (Multiple procedures) exempt. Unlike 36489, codes with the term "separate...

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