To put it simply, venous catheterization is a technique to access veins. A central venous access catheter or device is used to deliver medications, intravenous fluids or get blood samples. Central venous access catheters as well as central venous access devices (VADs) are two diverse methods of venous catheterization. The correct procedural coding of central venous catheters and central venous devices (CVD) is to a certain extent difficult for many coders.
This is in part owing to the terms used by physicians when defining the catheters and devices inserted. Several physicians use the term "vascular access device" to mean any kind of central venous catheterization without providing sufficient information as to the exact type inserted, whether it is a non-tunneled or it is tunneled central venous catheter or the insertion of a tunneled, implantable, either partially or totally, central VAD. Similarly, the physician may not always document in case the insertion site is central or peripheral. This lack of exact documentation for the procedures leads to confusion and frustration on the part of the coder.
There are two sorts of VADs: one entirely implanted and the other partially implanted. Both types of VADs are intended to offer repeated access to the vascular system devoid of the trauma or complications of multiple veni-punctures.
CPT has distinct codes for non-tunneled and tunneled central venous access procedures. Consequently, the initial words to concentrate on while coding the insertion of central venous access procedures are "non-tunneled" and "tunneled." The subsequent key word is catheter or device. The non-tunneled central venous access catheter might have either the central or peripheral placement, with a dissimilar set of codes assigned as per the insertion site, central or peripheral, plus according to the age of the patient. Non-tunneled, centrally placed venous access catheters as well as non-tunneled peripherally inserted central venous catheters will not be having a port or pump.
The codes are as following: 36555 (insertion of non-tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter, under 5 years of age), as well as code 36556 meant for age 5 years or older. The insertion of a non-tunneled, peripherally inserted central venous catheter, or PICC, is also broken down by age. The codes are 36568 (insertion of a non-tunneled peripherally inserted central venous catheter, without subcutaneous port or pump, under 5 years of age), and 36569 for age 5 years or older.
CPT has codes meant for the insertion of tunneled central VADs, they could be catheters or devices, along with for peripherally inserted central VADs. The tunneled central venous catheter codes are allocated on the basis of age. The code meant for the insertion of a tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter, without a subcutaneous port or pump, under 5 years of age is 36557, and code 36558 for age 5 years or older.
For further details on this and for other medical coding updates, sign up http://www.supercoder.com/.
This is in part owing to the terms used by physicians when defining the catheters and devices inserted. Several physicians use the term "vascular access device" to mean any kind of central venous catheterization without providing sufficient information as to the exact type inserted, whether it is a non-tunneled or it is tunneled central venous catheter or the insertion of a tunneled, implantable, either partially or totally, central VAD. Similarly, the physician may not always document in case the insertion site is central or peripheral. This lack of exact documentation for the procedures leads to confusion and frustration on the part of the coder.
There are two sorts of VADs: one entirely implanted and the other partially implanted. Both types of VADs are intended to offer repeated access to the vascular system devoid of the trauma or complications of multiple veni-punctures.
CPT has distinct codes for non-tunneled and tunneled central venous access procedures. Consequently, the initial words to concentrate on while coding the insertion of central venous access procedures are "non-tunneled" and "tunneled." The subsequent key word is catheter or device. The non-tunneled central venous access catheter might have either the central or peripheral placement, with a dissimilar set of codes assigned as per the insertion site, central or peripheral, plus according to the age of the patient. Non-tunneled, centrally placed venous access catheters as well as non-tunneled peripherally inserted central venous catheters will not be having a port or pump.
The codes are as following: 36555 (insertion of non-tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter, under 5 years of age), as well as code 36556 meant for age 5 years or older. The insertion of a non-tunneled, peripherally inserted central venous catheter, or PICC, is also broken down by age. The codes are 36568 (insertion of a non-tunneled peripherally inserted central venous catheter, without subcutaneous port or pump, under 5 years of age), and 36569 for age 5 years or older.
CPT has codes meant for the insertion of tunneled central VADs, they could be catheters or devices, along with for peripherally inserted central VADs. The tunneled central venous catheter codes are allocated on the basis of age. The code meant for the insertion of a tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter, without a subcutaneous port or pump, under 5 years of age is 36557, and code 36558 for age 5 years or older.
For further details on this and for other medical coding updates, sign up http://www.supercoder.com/.
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