Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions with Full Rationale Answers

Practice Exam

Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions and answers with full rationale

Practice Exam

CPC Practice Exam and Study Guide Package

Practice Exam

What makes a good CPC Practice Exam? Questions and Answers with Full Rationale

CPC Exam Review Video

Laureen shows you her proprietary “Bubbling and Highlighting Technique”

Download your Free copy of my "Medical Coding From Home Ebook" at the top right corner of this page

Practice Exam

2018 CPC Practice Exam Answer Key 150 Questions With Full Rationale (HCPCS, ICD-9-CM, ICD-10, CPT Codes) Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions with Full Rationale Answers

Practice Exam

Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions and answers with full rationale

Tag Archives: Artery

Correct Coding for Renal Artery Doppler

Posted on by
Good morning!

I’m having trouble figuring out the correct code for a patient who came in for a Renal Artery Doppler. The code that I thought was correct, my boss disagreed with. She also presented the question to the provider, and he agreed with her. I guess I’m not fully grasping the way the report reads and that is why I’m thinking of the wrong code. Could someone please clarify this for me? I’ve included our discussion below. Thanks!

Original Email from Me: Pt no xxx had a Renal Artery Doppler on 4/26/18. The code for that (93976) is not in the fee schedule.

Response from boss: We need to discuss this. Why wouldn’t this be code 76770 or 76775?

Me: In the report on Ultralinq, they worded the procedure as "renal Artery Duplex." In the technique description of the report, it states "renal artery duplex examination using B-mode, color
flow, and spectral Doppler to assess arterial stenosis was performed."

93976: Duplex scan of arterial inflow and venous outflow of abdominal, pelvic, scrotal contents and/or retroperitoneal organs; limited study

76770: Ultrasound, retroperitoneal (eg, renal, aorta, nodes), real time with image documentation; complete

76775: Ultrasound, retroperitoneal (eg, renal, aorta, nodes), real time with image documentation; limited

In my opinion, 93976 reads more along the lines of what was performed.

Her Response: I asked provider in my meeting and he said it is 76770.

Radiology has NEVER been my strong point in billing, so any help understanding this would be greatly appreciated!

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

CPT for Femoral Artery Cutdown and Cannulation Only

Posted on by
Hello, any advice on what code to use for a vascular surgeon who did Right femoral artery with femoral artery isolation and cannulation followed by right femoral artery primary repair, hand held ultrasound guidance identification of the femoral artery?

This was for a tavr procedure, I’m not sure if this was the same session as the TAVR procedure or a separate session, but my surgeon only did the cutdown portion of the procedure, no documentation of tavr surgery involvement, would CPT 34812 work?

"The patient is a high risk candidate for surgical aortic valve replacement and
therefore he was a much better candidate for TAVR at this point. With the
preoperative evaluation, we noted the patient’s RV was severely tortuous and
therefore decided on a primary cutdown with identification and also isolation of
the right femoral artery.The patient was prepped and draped in the usual
sterile fashion for the TAVR procedure. After this was ready, we proceeded with
an ultrasound identification of the location of the right femoral artery.
Thereafter, incision was then made above the inguinal crease. The femoral
artery was then identified. Pursestring suture was placed over the left
preselected area on the femoral artery for cannulation. At the end of procedure
after the 24-French sheath was then removed the previously placed suture was
then initially tightened down. Vascular clamp was then placed proximally and
distally to the femoral artery. Thereafter, the pursestring suture was removed
and then the artery was then repaired primarily. After completion of the repair,
the distal femoral artery clamp was first removed followed by the proximal
femoral clamp. Hemostasis was noted. The cutdown was then reapproximated in 3
layer fashion."

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Thromboendarterectomy of common and Deep femoral artery

Posted on by
Emergency thromboendarterectomy of the right common femoral and superficial
femoral and profunda femoris artery. CPT 35371 and CPT 35372 can we bill together with 59 modifier. Thromboendarterectomy for two different vessel we can bill altogether but for thromboendarterectomy on same vessel with two different branches, i am not sure. Please help.Thanks

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Temporal Artery Mass ICD – 10

Posted on by
I can’t find the dx code for temporal artery mass. There is nothing noted on the billing sheets that mass was due to an aneurysm or pseudoaneurysm. So I don’t think these codes would be appropriate. The surgeon office used H53.8 – Other visual disturbances but that doesn’t seem right either. The mass is the case of the visual disturbance. The procedure code is 37609 – Ligation or biopsy, temporal artery.

I was thinking perhaps R22.0 Localized swelling, mass and lump, head but that doesn’t seem right since this is vascular.

Medical Billing and Coding