Vascular ultrasound billing turns on 2 questions: complete or limited, and 1 side or both. Most vascular codes come as a pair, and the limited code pays less. Your report decides which one you get paid for.
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A complete bilateral carotid duplex is 93880. A unilateral or limited study is 93882.
A complete study images the common, internal and external carotids on both sides, with spectral Doppler velocities. A report that covers less supports only 93882.
A common denial is diagnosis. A routine check with no bruit, TIA, stroke or known stenosis fails your MAC's policy. A repeat within the year for stable disease needs a reason in the note.
An ABI with Doppler waveforms or PVR is 93922 when limited, at 1 or 2 levels on both legs. It is 93923 when complete: 3 or more levels, or 1 level with provocative maneuvers. 93924 is the ABI with treadmill exercise.
A handheld Doppler ABI with no recorded waveforms is part of the visit. 93922 and 93923 are never billed on the same day.
Leg arterial duplex is 93925 complete bilateral and 93926 unilateral or limited. A same-day physiologic study and duplex each need a report, and the duplex needs a reason.
93922
ABI at 1 or 2 levels
93923
ABI at 3 or more levels
A complete bilateral venous duplex is 93970, and 93971 is unilateral or limited. A DVT workup on 1 swollen leg is 93971. Billing 93970 for 1 symptomatic leg is an overbill auditors look for.
On every vascular claim we check 4 things:
A reflux study for venous insufficiency uses the same codes, with the reflux documented. When a denial still comes back, we appeal it with your note, not a resubmission.
Denials and appealsEach code pays only when your signed report supports it. In a hospital you bill the read with modifier 26, and the hospital bills the facility claim.
| Code | Study |
|---|---|
| 93880 | Carotid duplex, complete bilateral |
| 93882 | Carotid duplex, unilateral or limited |
| 93922 | ABI, limited, 1 or 2 levels |
| 93923 | ABI, complete, 3 or more levels or provocative maneuvers |
| 93924 | ABI with treadmill exercise |
| 93925, 93926 | Leg arterial duplex, complete and limited |
| 93930, 93931 | Arm arterial duplex, complete and limited |
| 93970, 93971 | Venous duplex, complete bilateral and unilateral or limited |
| 93978, 93979 | Aorta and iliac duplex, complete and limited |
We show you, by payer, which limited studies went out as complete, and which were denied and why. Free, no strings.
3% of collectionsNo setup feeNo contract