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 in coronary artery bypass surgery.  In October 2010, Code 17.71 went into effect to track SPY IFVA in non-coronary applications. 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.

For additional information about reimbursement for SPY IVFA procedures in non-coronary procedures, customers may contact the LifeCell Reimbursement Hotline at 888.543.3656 or via email at reimbursement@lifecell@com.