Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions with Full Rationale Answers

Practice Exam

Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions and answers with full rationale

Practice Exam

CPC Practice Exam and Study Guide Package

Practice Exam

What makes a good CPC Practice Exam? Questions and Answers with Full Rationale

CPC Exam Review Video

Laureen shows you her proprietary “Bubbling and Highlighting Technique”

Download your Free copy of my "Medical Coding From Home Ebook" at the top right corner of this page

Practice Exam

2018 CPC Practice Exam Answer Key 150 Questions With Full Rationale (HCPCS, ICD-9-CM, ICD-10, CPT Codes) Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions with Full Rationale Answers

Practice Exam

Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions and answers with full rationale

Coding heart cath, w/ coronary angiography

**My first post**
I’m not a professional coder by any stretch but I’ve been trying to learn more since I came into the cardiology field. One of our docs did as follows:

Left heart catheterization with coronary angiography, left ventriculography, angioplasty, carotid arch and four vessels, abdominal aortogram, and right selective runoff. (Report available if more information is needed)

The coder billed 93458.26, 36200, and 75716.

Our reimbursement was only $ 278.98 and I feel sure that a modifier should be attached to not only the 36200, but also the 75716. Insurance denial just states that the 36200 & 75716 were included in the 93458.26. I was thinking the 36200 would need a mod 50, and the 75716 would need to have a 26 & 59. But again, I’m not a coder, just trying to learn as I come across denials so I can fix them.

Thanks!

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

cath coding need help

PROCEDURES
1. Right radial access
2. Coronary angiogram
3. Left heart catheterization
4. Right axillary artery angiogram
5. Percutaneous intervention and drug-eluting stent placement to right coronary artery

PROCEDURE NOTE
Informed consent was obtained after explaining the risks and benefits to the patient. Right wrist was draped and prepped in the sterile fashion. Allen’s test was performed in the right radial artery which was satisfactory. Patient was premedicated with 1.5 mg Versed and 50 mcg fentanyl IV. After injecting 2% lidocaine and the right wrist, right radial artery was accessed using micropuncture needle without difficulty. 4000 units of heparin, 200 µg nitroglycerin, 200 µg Cardene were given through radial sheath. 5 French Jacky catheter was used to cannulate left and right coronary arteries. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was measured. Patient was proceeded with intervention of right coronary artery. At the end of procedure, right axillary artery angiogram was performed as well as catheter pulled back to check gradient across the axillary artery stenosis. Patient remained hemodynamically stable and tolerated procedure well. Radial sheath was pulled and transradial band was applied with good hemostasis.

CORONARY ANGIOGRAM
1. Left main was large in caliber with mild ostial plaque. No significant disease noted.

2. Left anterior descending artery large in caliber region to the apex. Ostial and proximal LAD had 80% diffuse disease. Just before the stent there was 40% focal stenosis. Stents were noted in the mid LAD which were widely patent. Apical LAD was small in caliber but otherwise no significant disease in LAD.

3. Left circumflex artery was large in caliber and anatomically nondominant artery. Mild 20-30% diffuse disease was noted in the circumflex artery but overall circumflex artery was nonobstructive.

4. Right coronary artery was large in caliber and anatomically dominant artery. Right coronary artery was also calcified. Occipital and mid right coronary artery was also calcified. Proximal right coronary artery had a 30% eccentric stenosis. Mid right coronary artery had a diffuse mild atherosclerotic disease. Distal right coronary artery and a stent. There was 90% stenosis at the proximal edge of the stent. There was also 99% stenosis within distal stent. 2 lateral branch and posterior descending branches were patent with mild disease. Flow in the right coronary artery was TIMI-3 and normal.
*
LEFT HEART CATHETERIZATION
Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was 15 mmHg. No significant gradient across aortic valve.

PERCUTANEOUS INTERVENTION OF RIGHT CORONARY ARTERY
5 French JR4 guide catheter was advanced and right coronary artery was selectively cannulated. Angiomax was used for anticoagulation. 0.014 BMW guidewire was advanced distally in the right coronary artery. 0.014 water wire was advanced distally in the right coronary artery as a buddy wire for better support. 2.5 x 15 mm noncompliant balloon was advanced and distal right coronary artery lesion was predilated at 16 atm to 3 times. Nitroglycerin intracoronary was given. Subsequently 3.0 x 24 mm Promus premier drug-eluting stent was advanced but could not cross lesion within the previous stent due to significant calcified mid right coronary artery. Using same 2.5 x 50 mm balloon distal right coronary artery was predilated few more times. After few attempts 3.0 x 24 mm Promus premier drug-eluting stent was advanced the stent was deployed covering lesion within the previous stent at 15 atm. Stent was postdilated using 3.0 x 15 mm noncompliant balloon at 20 atm to 3 times. Nitroglycerin intracoronary was given. Subsequent angiogram revealed wide-open right coronary artery with a 0% residual stenosis, TIMI-3 antegrade flow and no evidence of dissection or perforation. Patient was hemodynamically stable and chest pain-free at the end of procedure.
*
RIGHT AXILLARY ANGIOGRAM
Right axillary artery was calcified with 60-70% diffuse stenosis. There was also 20 mm gradient across the lesion.

IMPRESSION
1. Patent LAD stents
2. Nonobstructive left anterior descending and left circumflex artery
3. 99% in-stent restenosis of distal right coronary artery.
4. Successful percutaneous intervention and drug-eluting stent placement to distal right coronary artery.
5. 60-70% stenosis of right axillary artery.
thank you in advance
I am thinking 93458-xu, c9600-rca, 75710-rt
*

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

CARDIAC CATH REPORT… help!!

My office manager codes all of the procedures and she’s on vacation… She also took our coding books with her so I can’t look anything up. My first time coding procedures and I need help with one! I’m having trouble choosing the correct codes by the EMR program descriptions. Does anyone have a cheat sheet or can direct me any helpful links? The report is as follows…

Procedure Type
*
Diagnostic procedure: Venous Graft Angiography, LIMA Graft Angiography,
Coronary Angiography

Miscellaneous: Closure Device Insertion

Registration Data

Registration Date: 07/02/2018 Registration Time: 09:28
*
Medical History

Allergies
– NKA:Sensitivity: Allergy.
*
Procedure Data

Procedure Date
Date: 07/02/2018Start: 13:15End: 14:35
*
The procedure was explained in detail to the patient. Risks, complications
and alternative treatments were reviewed. Written consent was obtained.
*
Diagnostic Cath Status: Elective
*
Entry Locations
– Retrograde Percutaneous access was performed through the Right Femoral
artery (Primary location). A 4 Fr sheath was inserted. This was
exchanged for a 6 Fr sheath. Hemostasis was successfully obtained using
Perclose ProGlide (Abbott).
*
Procedure Medications
– Versed/Midazolam I.V. 0.5 mg.
*
– Fentanyl/Sublimaze I.V. 25 mcg.
*
– Fentanyl/Sublimaze I.V. 25 mcg.
*
– Versed/Midazolam I.V. 0.5 mg.
*
– Fentanyl/Sublimaze I.V. 25 mcg.
*
– Lidocaine 2% S.Q. 10 ml.
*
Diagnostic Catheters
– A6 FrCordis 6F Infiniti JL4 100cmwas used for:*Left coronary
angiography.
*
– A6 FrCordis 6F Infiniti JR4 100cmwas used for:*Right coronary
angiography.
*
– A6 FrCordis 6F Infiniti JR4 100cmwas used for:*SVG.
*
– ACordis 6F Infiniti IM 100cm.was used for:*LIMA.
*
Complications: *No Complications.
*
Specimens Removed:

Contrast Material
– Visipaque (92002)105 ml
*
Fluoroscopy Time: Diagnostic: 11:21 minutes. Total: 11:21 minutes.
*
cGycm2 (T/R/F)7739/4152/3587 Cath Lab Rm #CCL 5
Primary ProcDiagnostic Air Kerma1018mGy
Patient Arrived Fromcau Patient Sent Toccl holding
*
Hemodynamics

Condition: Rest

O2 Consumption: Estimated: 258.65Heart Rate: 61 bpm

Pressures (mmHg)
+—–+——————————————————————–+
!Site !Pressure (mmHg) !
+—–+——————————————————————–+
!AO !163/62 (96) !
+—–+——————————————————————–+
*
Shunts
*
Oxygen Values

O2 Capacity 145.52 O2 Consumption 258.65

Aorta Findings

Angiographic Findings

Cardiac Arteries and Lesion Findings

LAD:
The LAD is a moderate caliber vessel. The 1st diagonal branch is small.
Immediately after the 1st diagonal branch, there is a long "apple core" 99%
stenosis. Competitive flow is seen in the remainder of the LAD and the large
2nd diagonal branch. Distal LAD subtended by patent LIMA graft.

Lesion on Mid LAD: 99% stenosis 8 mm length.

LCx:
Circumflex is a large caliber vessel. There is mild disease in the proximal
portion. First obtuse marginal is subtotally occluded. Distally, there is a
large posterolateral branch. The left PDA is small in caliber. There is
moderate diffuse disease but no obstructive lesions.

Lesion on 1st Ob Marg: Ostial.100% stenosis.

RCA:
The RCA small and nondominant.
*
Cardiac Grafts

– There is a graft that originates at the Aorta Left and attaches to the
1st Ob Marg. Widely patent

– There is a graft that originates at the Aorta Left and attaches to the
2nd Diag. Widely patent

– There is a graft that originates at the LIMA and attaches to the Dist
LAD. Widely patent

Coronary Tree

Dominance: Left

Conclusions

Procedure Summary
Indication: Severe aortic stenosis

Coronary angiography performed via right femoral approach revealed
presence of a left dominant system. The LAD is subtotally occluded in the
midportion. First obtuse marginal is subtotally occluded at the ostium.
Circumflex is widely patent otherwise. The RCA small and not dominant.
There are 3 patent grafts including LIMA to LAD, SVG to 2nd diagonal and
SVG to 1st obtuse marginal.

Recommendations
Proceed with TAVR evaluation

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Left and Right Heart Cath

Hi,

I have a report that has left heart catheterization and a right heart catheterization. Left heart catheterization was completed. When doing the right heart catheterization did not advance the Swan
Ganz catheter in the pulmonary wedge position due to the shape of the heart and frequent ventricular ectopy. Is the Right heart Catheterization billable?

Thanks,

Kayla

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Selective cath bil subclavian arteries, bil upper extremity venograms…

How would you code the following case? Our codes are the following:
36255-50, 36100-59-LT, 76937, 75822

We are unsure if ultrasound guidance can be coded in this case. Also, with the RUE venogram performed through IV access site, there’s no catheter placement code for this, right? Additionally, the reason we are choosing 36100 is for the LUE vein branch that was punctured for the LUE venogram. We are also unsure if the LT modifier is used on 36100.

Pre-operative diagnosis:
1. End stage renal disease on dialysis with multiple failed accesses

Post-operative diagnosis:
1. same

Procedure:
1. BL UE venogram with US guidance
2. BL UE angiogram with selective catheterization of subclavian arteries
3. Arch aortogram
4. R transfemoral artery access

Complications: none

Specimens: none

Procedure in detail:
In the angio suite the BL upper extremities were prepped and draped in the usual sterile fashion. BL groins were prepared and drapped in the usual sterile fashion. Direct US guidance was used to obtain access to the R common femoral artery with micropuncture needle, wire, and sheath. Wire and catheter were used to shoot an arch aortogram. Great vessels patent. Both R and L subclavian arteries were selectively catheterized. Angiography revealed patent vessels with sluggish flow in BL UE’s, likely cardiogenic in nature. RUE IV was used to perform venogram, which showed diffuse sclerosis of the cephalic, basilic, and brachial veins with poor caliber. Axillary veno open but somewhat small. LUE vein branch punctured with micropuncture needle, wire, and sheeth with US guidance. Venogram shows old occluded graft, patency of axillary vein. 5 Fr sheath pulled from groin. Pressure held. No hematoma.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum