March 1, 2018

Question:
Before the new codes, I knew which codes to use based on the brand name of the device.  It doesn’t seem that easy under the new codes. Any advice?

Answer:
The five prior EVAR codes (34800, 34802, 34803, 34804, 34805) do not crosswalk exactly to the new main body EVAR codes.  Even though there are eight new codes, there are actually three based on device configuration for aorta aneurysms. These three become six, since there are separate codes for ruptured and non-ruptured aneurysms.  To identify the device and codes accurately, develop a crosswalk of the old device codes by brand name and configuration and compare to the new codes. This should help determine accurate code selection.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 03/01/18.