When coders hear the words "interventional radiology," many think of vascular procedures. However, interventional radiology encompasses additional, nonvascular procedures, such as nephrostomy tube placement and drainage of abscesses.
In November 2011, the FDA approved transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to treat aortic valve stenosis for those patients who are not candidates for traditional open-heart surgery. This procedure is also referred to as a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).
One of the major changes to the 2013 CPT Manual is the replacement of the term "physician" with "physician or other qualified healthcare professional" (QHP) in a wide range of codes.
