2026 PCI Codes for Interventional Cardiology-2026 PCI Coding Changes Brochure

2026 PCI Coding Changes Brochure

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The 2026 PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) coding system has undergone significant updates to better reflect procedural work. Key changes include:

1. <strong>New Coding Structure for Stenting and CTO Procedures:</strong>  
   - <strong>Stenting Codes:</strong>  
     - <em>92928</em> covers placement of intracoronary stent(s) with angioplasty for a single major coronary artery and/or its branches involving one lesion, regardless of the number of stents or segments treated.  
     - <em>92930</em> covers complex cases with two or more distinct lesions, requiring two or more stents across multiple coronary segments or bifurcation lesions needing stenting/angioplasty in both the main artery and side branch.  
   - <strong>Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) Codes:</strong>  
     - <em>92943</em> for CTO revascularization via an antegrade approach.  
     - <em>92945</em> for CTO revascularization using combined antegrade and retrograde approaches.

2. <strong>Deletion of Branch Add-On Codes:</strong>  
   Previous add-on codes for additional coronary branches and certain atherectomy procedures (e.g., 92921, 92925, 92929, 92934) have been removed. Now, a single code covers all work within a major coronary artery and its branches.

3. <strong>General Coding Principles:</strong>  
   - Single codes encompass all work within a major artery and its branches.  
   - Native coronary arteries and bypass grafts are reported separately.  
   - Separate major coronary arteries with distinct lesions are coded independently.  
   - Thrombolysis codes 92975 and 92977 were deleted.

4. <strong>Definitions Clarified:</strong>  
   - A coronary lesion includes all involved segments from proximal to distal ends and can span coronary artery branches or bypass grafts.  
   - Major coronary arteries include left main, LAD, left circumflex, right, and ramus intermedius arteries.  
   - Coronary artery branches include specified branches of LAD, circumflex, and right coronary arteries.

5. <strong>Minor Descriptor Updates:</strong>  
   Modifications were made to codes 92973, 93571, and 93572.

Overall, the 2026 CPT updates streamline coding by consolidating actions within coronary arteries and branches into single codes, removing complexities related to branch add-ons, and introducing clear categorizations for stenting and CTO procedures. These changes aim to simplify reporting and better align with clinical practice. The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) provides these guidelines as expert consensus but advises consulting legal counsel for reimbursement and coding use.

Keywords

2026 PCI CPT updates

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention coding

Stenting codes 92928 and 92930

Chronic Total Occlusion coding 92943 and 92945

Deletion of branch add-on codes

Coronary artery lesion definitions

Coding for major coronary arteries

Thrombolysis code deletions

SCAI coding guidelines

Simplified PCI procedural coding