A patient who undergoes platelet apheresis and is discharged after the platelets are retransfused should be reported with which code?

The situation described involves a patient undergoing platelet apheresis, which is a procedure where platelets are collected from the blood and can subsequently be transfused back to the patient. The coding for apheresis procedures is standardized to ensure accurate billing for the services provided.

In this case, the correct code is 36513, which specifically corresponds to the procedure of platelet apheresis with further retransfusion of the platelets collected back to the patient. This code captures the complexity of the service since it involves both the collection of platelets and their subsequent reinfusion.

The other codes relate to different aspects of apheresis processes. For instance, code 36511 is used for leukapheresis, which involves the collection of white blood cells, while 36512 refers to the collection of plasma (plasma exchange). Code 36515 covers additional procedures related to apheresis but does not specifically denote platelet collection and retransfusion. Hence, selecting 36513 accurately reflects the procedure performed and is aligned with the coding guidelines for platelet apheresis activities.