tci Outpatient Facility Coding Alert - 2014 Issue 11

Reader Question: Use 36000 as Catheter Placement Code

Question:  Our surgeon noted that, for a 62-year-old patient, he inserted a central line through the right femoral vein and advanced a triple lumen catheter over the wires into the right femoral vein, where it terminated. Should I report 36556 even though the line didn’t terminate in the subclavian, brachiocephalic, iliac vein; the superior or inferior vena cava; or the right atrium? Louisiana Subscriber Answer: No, 36556 (Insertion of non-tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter; age 5 years or older) is not the best code for this case. You are correct that to use 36556 or any...

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