Cardiology Question for the Week of January 20, 2020

Question:

If the intent of the procedure is to place a PICC line but this cannot be done, and the catheter is advanced only into a peripheral vein can this be coded as a PICC with a -52 modifier?

Answer:

No, if the tip of the catheter terminates outside one of the six locations (subclavian vein, innominate/brachiocephalic vein, superior vena cava, right atrium/ right heart, iliac vein, inferior vena cava) defining a central venous access catheter or device it does not qualify as a central venous catheter and may not be reported as a PICC. Instead, this should be reported with a venipuncture code (36400, 36406, 36410).

This question was answered in our Interventional Radiology Coder. For more hot topics relating to interventional radiology services, please visit our store or call us at 1.800.252.1578, ext. 2.

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