Coding For Aaa: Give Yourself An Edge With Ccc Certification

By Author: Celena Rose
Total Articles: 146
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If you thought choosing the proper endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair code is the end of the coding story for these procedures, then we'd beg to differ.


As per CPT guidelines, you shouldn't report balloon angioplasty or stent deployment within the target treatment zone along with primary AAA endovascular codes 34800-34805. The cardiologist may use angioplasty to inflate, and a stent to help anchor, the prosthesis after placing it. For instance, the AMA has come up with 34800-34805 to include these services.


However, CPT guidelines confirm that when the cardiologist must perform interventional procedures in a separate area, you may report them as separate from the AAA pair.


To cite examples, CPT guidelines indicate these include renal transluminal angioplasty, arterial embolization, intravascular ultrasound, balloon angioplasty or stenting of native artery outside the endoprosthesia target zone.


Append modifier 59 to show the payer that the procedure is not a part of primary service, and the cardiologist's documentation will have to ...
... corroborate that the service occurred at an area distinct from the AAA repair.


Wriggling out of tough cardiology coding situations is however not that difficult for a certified cardiology coder. You can go for a Certified Cardiology Coder certification (CCC certification) for which you need to pass AAPC's tough CCC exam. There are CCC training camps that you can attend to make your task of clearing the exam much more easier.


Spanning three days, such camps help you get on top of all that you need to know to clear the exam.


When you have a certification to your name, you'll not just boost your knowledge about CPT codes for cardiology but will also be able to steer your cardiology coding career towards the right direction.


codingcert.com provides selected trainers that gives you hands-on training for becoming a coding professional and a medical coder through medical coding certification at our CPC training camp.