Desirae Cook asked:
I cannot find a code to drain an indwelling thracentesis catheter. The patient came in with outpatient orders to have the catheter drained every 3 days. The nurse attaches a gravity drain to the pleurx drain and changes the dressing to the drain site. Any ideas?
Answer:
<https://www.beckersasc.com/asc-coding-billing-and-collections/cpt-requires-updated-codes-for-thoracentesis-reporting.html>
I found this PDF from CareFusion. The date on it is 2015. It should give you a launching point on where to look.
Drainage procedures
32554 Thoracentesis; needle or _**catheter**_; aspiration of the pleural space; without imaging guidance
32555 Thoracentesis; needle or catheter; aspiration of the pleural space; with imaging guidance
32556 Pleural drainage; percutaneous; with insertion of indwelling catheter; without imaging guidance
32557 Pleural drainage; percutaneous; with insertion of indwelling catheter; with imaging guidance
49082 Abdominal paracentesis (diagnostic or therapeutic); without image guidance
49083 Abdominal paracentesis (diagnostic or therapeutic); with image guidance
I cannot find a code to drain an indwelling thracentesis catheter. The patient came in with outpatient orders to have the catheter drained every 3 days. The nurse attaches a gravity drain to the pleurx drain and changes the dressing to the drain site. Any ideas?
Answer:
<https://www.beckersasc.com/asc-coding-billing-and-collections/cpt-requires-updated-codes-for-thoracentesis-reporting.html>
I found this PDF from CareFusion. The date on it is 2015. It should give you a launching point on where to look.
Drainage procedures
32554 Thoracentesis; needle or _**catheter**_; aspiration of the pleural space; without imaging guidance
32555 Thoracentesis; needle or catheter; aspiration of the pleural space; with imaging guidance
32556 Pleural drainage; percutaneous; with insertion of indwelling catheter; without imaging guidance
32557 Pleural drainage; percutaneous; with insertion of indwelling catheter; with imaging guidance
49082 Abdominal paracentesis (diagnostic or therapeutic); without image guidance
49083 Abdominal paracentesis (diagnostic or therapeutic); with image guidance
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