AMA CPT® Assistant - 2012 Issue 1 (January)
Medicine: Noninvasive Vascular Diagnostic Studies (Q&A) (January 2012)
January 2012 page 13b Medicine: Noninvasive Vascular Diagnostic Studies Question: For facility reporting, may code 93970 be reported once when performed for the upper extremities and once for the lower extremities with Modifier 59 appended? Answer: It is appropriate to report CPT code 93970 , Duplex scan of extremity veins including responses to compression and other maneuvers; complete bilateral study , once for the upper extremity veins and once for the lower extremity veins when bilateral studies of both upper and lower extremities are performed. This code is intended to identify either the upper or the lower extremities, and Modifier 59...
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Article Overview
This article explains a coding question from CPT Assistant about facility reporting for noninvasive vascular diagnostic studies. It focuses on extremity venous duplex scanning, when separate reporting is discussed for upper and lower extremity studies, and the related use of a modifier in that context. The piece is aimed at coding professionals who need to understand the scope of the question and the coding concepts addressed in the guidance.
Why This Topic Matters
Noninvasive vascular diagnostic studies are commonly reported in radiology and vascular medicine settings, and small differences in exam scope and reporting structure can affect claim submission accuracy. This article helps coders and billing staff understand the type of guidance available in a CPT Assistant Q&A format.
Article Sections
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January 2012 page 13b
Editorial placement information for the Q&A item in the January 2012 issue.
What You Will Learn
- The article’s focus within noninvasive vascular diagnostic studies
- How the Q&A addresses facility reporting questions
- The coding and modifier topics discussed for extremity venous duplex studies
- The context in which separate anatomic regions are discussed for reporting purposes
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Revenue cycle staff
- Facility billing staff
- Radiology coding professionals
- Vascular laboratory staff
Codes Discussed
Modifiers Discussed
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