tci Part B Insider - 2012 Issue 34

Coding CVAs? Don't Follow Brand Names

Making assumptions can point you to the wrong code. Physicians typically tunnel some brands of catheters and not tunnel others -- but don't let the catheter name dictate your coding. Hickman, Broviac, and Groshong catheters typically are tunneled, while Hone and triple-lumen catheters are non-tunneled. "Because tunneled catheters help prevent infection from colonization, they're a good choice for catheters placed for chronic conditions such as dialysis or chemotherapy," says Scott Groudine, MD, of Albany Medical Center in Albany, N.Y. "If the catheter is placed urgently and for short-term use, it probably will not need to be tunneled...

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