On Demand: 2026 CVSL Reimbursement Updates for Boston Scientific Technologies-Webinar Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar opens with housekeeping on accessing slides via chat and submitting questions through the Q&A box. Speakers Gaelle Wine and Lori Wuchowicz then review 2026 reimbursement and coding updates focused on the cardiovascular service line.<br /><br />For peripheral interventions, CMS finalized broad payment increases across sites of service and introduced a major lower-extremity revascularization coding overhaul—the biggest since 2011—replacing legacy codes with 46 new codes effective Jan 1, 2026. The new structure differentiates by vascular territory (including new inframalleolar territory), lesion complexity (stenosis vs occlusion), and add-on codes for multivessel/complex work, aligning payment and physician RVUs with current practice.<br /><br />In interventional cardiology, inpatient PCI with atherectomy received three new DRGs (effective Oct 1, 2025) to reflect higher cost and length of stay, emphasizing accurate documentation of atherectomy, stents, and comorbidities. Outpatient updates include new CPT Category 1 codes for bifurcation stenting and CTO PCI, improved APC assignments for several PCI-related services, and AGENT drug-coated balloon moving to higher APC payment with continued pass-through (outpatient) and NTAP (inpatient) add-on payments; permanent Category 1 codes are expected in 2027.<br /><br />Lori reviews CRM/diagnostics stability, new RPM coding for external monitors, labeling updates for the LUX insertable monitor, and improved IDTF ECG monitoring payments. For EP/Watchman, AFib volumes are rising, ablations are now ASC-eligible, Watchman remains inpatient-only for 2026, and the speakers stress rigorous documentation aligned to the unchanged national coverage decision due to denials. They also discuss physician payment reductions for LAA closure and AF ablation, and growing ASC strategy considerations. Resources and Boston Scientific support options conclude the session.

Keywords

2026 reimbursement and coding updates

lower-extremity revascularization coding overhaul

46 new peripheral intervention codes

inpatient PCI with atherectomy DRG changes

bifurcation stenting and CTO PCI CPT codes

AGENT drug-coated balloon APC pass-through NTAP

AF ablation ASC eligibility and payment

Watchman left atrial appendage closure documentation and denials