Question:
Regarding pulmonary angiography coding, when a catheter is placed in the main pulmonary artery and an angiogram was performed with findings, we know this is considered nonselective. However, when a catheter was selected into RT and LT pulmonary arteries but no angiogram was performed before a thrombectomy was performed, what is the coding here? Should we code 75746, 36014RT, and 36014LT, or do we change 75746 to 75743 since they went selectively into RT and LT pulmonary arteries? Please clarify.
Answer:
If the diagnostic angiogram was performed at the nonselective level, code 75746. Once the catheters are advanced into the right and left pulmonary arteries in order to perform the intervention, select codes 36014-50 to represent the selective catheter placement service. Your final code set for catheter placement and diagnostic services is 36014-50 and 75746.