Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: Using a right groin stick (right common iliac artery), the cardiologist performed an abdominal aortogram (with the catheter positioned at the level of renals), he then pulled the catheter down to the aorto-iliac bifurcation and looked at both lower extremities. Then he ran the catheter over to the left common femoral. I know I should use 75625 and 75716, but should I report 75774 for the lower-extremity study performed from the left common femoral artery?

Minnesota Subscriber

Answer: Yes, you should use +75774 (Angiography, selective, each additional vessel studied after basic examination, radiological supervision and interpretation [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) in this situation. Code 75774 is perhaps one of the most consistently uncaptured peripheral vascular services. 

Keep in mind: You could report this code several times for any given operative session. For example, if the cardiologist in your scenario followed the common femoral study with a study from the superficial femoral, you would be able to report 75774 again. Scenarios such as this are often the case, because cardiologists will move the catheter tip closer to the area of a suspected obstruction to facilitate more diagnostic studies of the area.