Summary & Overview
CPT 92924: Percutaneous Coronary Atherectomy with Angioplasty
CPT code 92924 identifies percutaneous coronary atherectomy, with angioplasty when performed, targeting one major coronary artery and/or one or more branches. This interventional cardiac procedure is used to remove plaque to restore coronary blood flow and may be performed in combination with balloon angioplasty. It is a clinically significant code for cardiovascular specialty billing and hospital service-line reporting because it represents a higher-complexity endovascular revascularization intervention with implications for resource use, facility throughput, and clinical outcomes.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find national benchmarks for utilization and reimbursement patterns across major payers, context on clinical indications and service settings, and notes on coding elements that affect claim adjudication. The publication highlights procedural scope (atherectomy with optional angioplasty in a single major coronary vessel or branches), typical sites of service such as hospital catheterization laboratories or inpatient settings, and common billing modifiers that may appear on claims. Data limitations are noted where input was not provided.
This resource is intended for billing managers, clinical documentation specialists, and policy analysts seeking a concise, nationally oriented briefing on CPT code 92924, its clinical role, and the payer landscape affecting interventional cardiology services.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 92924 describes a percutaneous coronary atherectomy, with angioplasty when performed, in one major coronary artery and/or its branches. The procedure involves inserting a catheter through the skin and guiding it into the coronary arteries to mechanically remove or shave away plaque (atherectomy) and may include balloon dilation (angioplasty) to widen the treated vessel.
Service Type: Interventional coronary revascularization procedure (atherectomy with possible angioplasty).
Typical Site of Service: Hospital inpatient or outpatient cardiac catheterization laboratory (cardiac cath lab) or other hospital-based interventional suites.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 68-year-old male with known atherosclerotic coronary artery disease presents with worsening exertional angina despite optimal medical therapy. Noninvasive testing and coronary angiography identify a focal, heavily calcified stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending artery with limiting flow. The interventional cardiology team schedules a percutaneous coronary atherectomy with possible adjunctive balloon angioplasty and stent placement. The patient is admitted to the cardiac catheterization laboratory; vascular access is obtained (commonly via the femoral or radial artery). Under fluoroscopic guidance the operator advances a guide catheter to the coronary ostium, engages the target vessel, and crosses the lesion with a guidewire. A rotational or directional atherectomy device is advanced to debulk and remove calcified plaque. After atherectomy, adjunctive balloon angioplasty may be performed to optimize lumen gain; stent placement is often considered based on residual stenosis and vessel dissection. Hemostasis is achieved at the access site and the patient is monitored post-procedure in the recovery or cardiac care unit. Typical site of service is an outpatient or inpatient hospital cardiac catheterization laboratory or an ambulatory surgery center equipped for interventional cardiology procedures.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
59 | Distinct procedural service | Use when another procedure or service not normally reported together is performed on a separate site or session; documents distinct coronary territory or separate session when applicable. |