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Also know how stent and angioplasty affect coding With a total new section for endovascular revascularization in CPT 2011, you’ll need to keep in mind lots of coding changes for such procedures in your general surgery practice. Read on for general surgery billing and coding expert advice and learn everything about iliac artery revascularization. Sixteen new codes meant for lower extremity revascularization will assist you more correctly report procedures your surgeon does to treat occlusive disease. The following listed four new codes concentrate on what PT 2011 terms the “iliac vascular territory”:

37220 — Revascularization, endovascular,either open or percutaneous, iliac artery, unilateral, initial vessel; including transluminal angioplasty 37221 — including transluminal stent placement(s), with angioplasty within the same vessel, when executed +37222– Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, iliac artery, each added ipsilateral iliac vessel; including transluminal angioplasty (List distinctly along with code for primary procedure) +37223– Including transluminal stent placement(s), with angioplasty in the same vessel, when executed (List distinctly along with code for primary procedure).

Whether your surgeon carries out one of these procedures percutaneously, through open exposure, or through a combination will not have an impact on your code choice. All four codes are suitable for any of those methods.1. Take in Catheterization, Radiology, and Other in 37220-+37223 In 2010, you used component billing for your endovascular revascularization procedures, but all that’s changed in 2011. The new codes 37220-+37223 include selective catheterization, radiological supervision and interpretation, as well as the treatment. 2. Distinguish ‘Initial’ and ‘Additional’ Vessels The codes for iliac services vary based on the factor that if you’re coding a service in an initial vessel (37220, 37221) or in an additional vessel (+37222, +37223) on the same side (ipsilateral). ;Key: CPT says that, in each leg, the iliac territory is bifurcated into 3 vessels: first being common iliac, second being internal iliac, and the third being external iliac. Codes 37220 and 37221 are applicable to the first iliac artery which is treated in a single leg. In case the physician treats one or two added iliac vessels in the similar leg, then you should select from +37222 and +37223. You might use up to two add-on codes per leg, as there are three iliac vessels. 3. Know How Stent and Angioplasty Affect Coding Only Angioplasty: You should report 37220 or +37222 if the surgeon carries out angioplasty only. Angioplasty as well as stent: When the surgeon carries out a stent placement within the initial iliac vessel, you are supposed to report only 37221. That code includes both stent placement and angioplasty, however angioplasty is not needed to use the code. You are not supposed to report 37220 (angioplasty) along with 37221 in this case. Likewise, you should use +37223 for stent placement (and angioplasty, if executed) in an added iliac artery in the same leg.

Want to know get more expert general surgery billing and coding tips like these? Click here to read the entire article and to get access to our monthly General Surgery Coding Alert: Your practical adviser for ethically optimizing general surgery billing and coding, payment, and efficiency for general surgery practices. Read more to perfect your general surgery billing and coding: http://www.supercoder.com/articles/articles-alerts/gca/cpt-2011-37220-37221-overhaul-your-iliac-vascular-intervention-choices/

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