ECMO with CentriMag

jeyson.flores@med.usc.edu

Our physicians are using ECMO and swapping out the standard ECMO pump for a CentriMag pump. Basically; the physicians state that the CentriMag VAD pump becomes part of the ECMO Circuit—where the CentriMag pump is now the pump being used for ECMO purposes. They have the option to use a regular ECMO pump or a CentriMag pump (or other extra-corporeal type of pump) . They choose the CentriMag pump because it has better functionality, less complications, and better improves patients’ hemodynamic outcomes.

Question: When physicians swap out the standard ECMO pump for a CentriMag pump— is this use of a CentriMag pump coded as a CentriMag VAD—with ICD-10-PCS codes 02HA3RZ and 5A02216? Our ECMO physicians believe that this pump swap should be coded as a CentriMag VAD—with ICD-10-PCS codes 02HA3RZ and 5A02216. Is this correct?

karenbridgeman

Glad you brought this up as we have had some of the same dilemma here.  After some discussion amongst other facilities, administration and compliance, we are now capturing both the ECMO and CentriMag on these patients.    We would use the 02HA3RZ code to capture the CentriMag along with the appropriate ECMO code.  This will move to the MS-DRG 215 grouper unless another major procedure trumps the DRG.  

Thanks, Karen