© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Therapeutic apheresis is a medical procedure that utilizes a specialized blood processing machine to separate blood into its various components, which include white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. This separation is achieved based on the weight of the different blood components. The primary purpose of therapeutic apheresis is to remove a specific component of the blood that is contributing to a patient's disease state. Prior to the procedure, a physician evaluates the patient to determine the necessity of therapeutic apheresis based on their medical condition. The procedure typically involves the use of a previously placed central venous catheter, or alternatively, venous catheters may be inserted to facilitate the connection of blood tubing to the apheresis machine. The physician is responsible for determining the parameters for the apheresis process and programming the machine accordingly. Once the procedure is initiated, blood is drawn from the patient and enters the apheresis machine through one of the venous catheters. The machine then separates the blood into its components, removes the specific component that is causing the disease, and returns the remaining blood components back to the patient through a second catheter. Throughout the procedure, the physician monitors the patient's condition, which may include cardiac monitoring and pulse oximetry, ensuring the patient's safety and well-being. After the procedure is completed, the patient is disconnected from the machine and undergoes a re-evaluation to assess their condition.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The procedure of therapeutic apheresis for platelets is indicated for various medical conditions where the removal of platelets is necessary to manage the patient's health effectively. The following are the explicitly provided indications for this procedure:
The procedure of therapeutic apheresis for platelets involves several critical steps that ensure the effective separation and removal of platelets from the patient's blood. The following steps outline the procedure in detail:
After the therapeutic apheresis procedure for platelets, patients may experience a range of outcomes. It is essential for healthcare providers to monitor the patient for any immediate post-procedure effects, such as changes in vital signs or any adverse reactions. Patients are typically advised to rest and may be observed for a short period to ensure stability. Follow-up evaluations may be necessary to assess the effectiveness of the procedure and to determine if additional treatments are required. Documentation of the procedure and the patient's response is crucial for ongoing care and management.
| Short Descr | APHERESIS PLATELETS | Medium Descr | THERAPEUTIC APHERESIS PLATELETS | Long Descr | Therapeutic apheresis; for platelets | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | 000 - Endoscopic or Minor Procedure | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 0 - Physician Service Code | Multiple Procedures (51) | 2 - Standard payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 1 - Statutory payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Procedure or Service, Not Discounted when Multiple | ASC Payment Indicator | Office-based surgical procedure added to ASC list in CY 2008 or later without MPFS nonfacility PE RVUs; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight. | Type of Service (TOS) | 1 - Medical Care | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P6C - Minor procedures - other (Medicare fee schedule) | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 231 - Other therapeutic procedures |
| 51 | Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | 58 | Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78. | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | 76 | Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 2003-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 2003. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.