Items Tagged: balloon



ZHealth Coding Update - Retroactive Billing Medicare

Retroactive Billing Medicare for Drug Coated Angioplasty Balloon Code C2623 with AV Dialysis Intervention Codes

Medicare is allowing pass-through payment for code C2623 with AV dialysis interventions for claims filed retroactively for dates of service from August 25, 2017, through December 31, 2017. Pass-through payment wasn’t made with this combination in 2017 due to Medicare not changing its limited coverage for the catheter’s use only in the femoral popliteal arteries. Effective January 1, 2018, pass-through payment for code C2623 ended.

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ZHealth Coding Newsletter - December 2017

December 2017 Q & A

Question: Drug Eluting Balloon C2623 with CPT 36902

Our facility is performing the AV angiography of the dialysis circuit as described in CPT code 36902. The surgery department is using the device code C2623 for the drug eluting balloon that is documented as being used by the surgeon. We are receiving denials that the drug eluting balloon code does not have a matching CPT code. From what I can find, it appears that drug eluting balloon code C2623 can only be used with fem/pop procedures; is this correct?

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ZHealth Coding Newsletter - November 2016

November 2016 Q & A

Question: Cutting Angioplasty with Perforation

Under fluoroscopic guidance, the upper arm dialysis access fistula was catheterized and fistulogram was obtained. There was a greater than 50% stenosis within the mid cephalic vein that was dilated with an 8 mm angioplasty balloon and high pressure angioplasty balloon with no effect. The lesion was then dilated with a cutting balloon. Following angioplasty with a cutting balloon there was a leak identified from the cephalic vein. Multiple attempts at balloon tamponade were performed, and these were unsuccessful at controlling the leak. An 8 mm x 6 cm fluency stent graft was then placed across the leak and dilated to 8 mm. Follow-up fistulogram was obtained and showed free flow of contrast through the stent. Cephalic arch and central veins are patent. The arterial anastomosis is widely patent. There is a small pseudoaneurysm in the cephalic vein near the arterial anastomosis.
I am assigning codes 36147 and 37238. Should something be stated about the perforation? If so, how should this be coded?

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ZHealth Coding Newsletter - March 2016

March 2016 Q & A

Question: Angioplasty or Primary Thrombectomy with No Stenosis Documented

Patient is on Day 2 of lower extremity arterial thrombolysis with EKOS catheter. The patient was placed on the angio table and the catheter was injected showing significant residual heavy clot burden. The physician ballooned the thrombus in the anterior tibial, posterior tibial and peroneal arteries with a 3mm balloon, then used an aspiration catheter in each vessel post ballooning due to loose clot seen within these vessels. There is no physician documentation of any underlying anatomical stenosis in these vessels. Thrombolysis was restarted with the EKOS catheter and sent to the floor for overnight monitoring. On Day 3, the patient is brought back for AngioJet thrombectomy, repeat ballooning of the peroneal along with thrombolytic spray through the AngioJet for 20 min. This is repeated in the posterior tibial artery. Follow-up angiography demonstrates a flow limiting dissection requiring stent placement.

Day 2 was coded as ...

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