Important CPT Code Changes for 2017 and How They Will Impact Documentation – Cardiovascular Surgery Code Changes

Multiple Changes in Cardiovascular Surgery Codes

Angioplasty:

New codes 37246 to 37249 + apply regardless of whether the procedure is open or percutaneous and now include radiological supervision and interpretation necessary to perform the angioplasty within the same vessel. Documentation should include the approach and in which vessel the angioplasty is being performed and any additional vessels.

37246Transluminal balloon angioplasty (except lower extremity artery(ies) for occlusive disease, intracranial, coronary, pulmonary, or dialysis circuit), open or percutaneous, including all imaging and radiological supervision and interpretation necessary to perform the angioplasty within the same artery; initial artery
37247+each additional artery (list separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
37248Transluminal balloon angioplasty(except dialysis circuit), open or percutaneous, including all imaging and radiological supervision and interpretation necessary to perform the angioplasty within the same vein; initial vein
37249+each additional vein (list separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
  • One of the trickier aspects of the new codes is that the descriptors tell which vessels the codes  DO NOT apply, not which vessels DO apply.

Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) is copyright 2017 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. No fee schedules, basic units, relative values, or related listings are included in CPT. The AMA assumes no other health insurance liability for the data contained herein.