Reimbursement Resources

Reimbursement for SPY Imaging

Novadaq provides support for assessments and facilitates education to hospital medical records, finance teams and practice administrators about Intra-operative fluorescence vascular angiography (IFVA) in practice.

Hospital Reimbursement

ICD-9-CM code 88.59 for SPY Imaging also described as IFVA became effective October 1, 2007. The codes are published in the IPPS Fiscal Year 2008 Medicare Addendum, Volume 3 and the Final Rule, 2008 published in the US Federal Register. Descriptions associated with the code include:

  •  Intra-operative fluorescence vascular angiography 
  •  Intra-operative laser arteriogram (SPY)
  •  SPY arteriogram
  •  SPY arteriography

Code 88.59 facilitates administrative tracking and resource utilization associated with SPY IFVA in MEDPAR and other administrative healthcare datasets. Resource utilization associated with SPY IFVA may impact medical surgical supply, capital equipment, operating room resource and/or medical records. The IPPS groups patients to MS-DRG based on principal procedure and primary and secondary diagnoses.

SPY angiography is a diagnostic procedure performed in the operating room secondary to a principal procedure. Some payers may establish technology fee schedules, reimburse on billed charges or perform cost assessments within specific groups or subgroups of patients. 

Physician Reimbursement

Each payer determines their own coding, coverage and payment policies. Novadaq has established the SPY Reimbursement Expert Support Program to offer reimbursement support to healthcare providers and patients pertaining to coding, coverage and reimbursement for SPY. Novadaq's Reimbursment Expert Support is provided by the Palomino Group, a leading service provider that implements state-of-the-art reimbursement services on behalf of innovative medical technology companies.

Support services provided include: 

  • Verification of patient insurance benefits, including deductibles and co-pays
  • Investigation of reimbursement requirements 
  • Assistance with reimbursement coverage, payment denials, and appeals
  • Coding assistance specific to SPY 
  • Billing information by insurance plan

Reimbursment experts are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm ET. You may contact the support center by phone at 877-367-7790, by fax at 763-647-7994 or by email at spy@palominogroup.com. A response is guaranteed by the next business day. Every attempt will be made to expedite immediate requests.