Question:
Am I understanding correctly that the Category III 0715T can only be used when a bare metal stent is placed?
Answer:
If you are a coding physician, the primary code (non-C codes for DES) would be recognized as a primary code for 0715T. If you are a coding facility (OPPS) for a DES stent and lithotripsy, the C codes as of today are not recognized as a primary code for 0715T so would reject them. If you are performing a bare-metal stent or maybe just an angioplasty with lithotripsy, that would take you to the 929xx codes, which are recognized as primary codes so you could report 0715T in addition.
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