Compliance Question of the Week

Cardiology

For the Week of March 10, 2014

Question:

What is the proper way to code a repeat bypass surgery?

Answer:

It is not uncommon for a patient to undergo a repeat bypass surgery. If the physician states “redo” or “repeat procedure,” use 33530 in addition to the appropriate code for the graft, if it is more than one month after the original operation. It is appropriate to use this code in addition to one selected from the 33400–33496, 33510–33536, and 33863 ranges.