Radiology Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Master Multiple Angiographies

Question: What CPT codes should I report when the physician performs angiography on both legs and one arm?

Minnesota Subscriber

  Answer: You should report 75710 (Angiography, extremity, unilateral, radiological supervision and interpretation) and 75716 (Angiography, extremity, bilateral, radiological supervision and interpretation). Append modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service) to 75710.

Why? National Correct Coding Initiative edits bundle unilateral angiogram code 75710 into bilateral angiogram code 75716 with a modifier indicator of 1, meaning that you may override the edit when the services are at separate encounters or on separate anatomic areas.

When you report the two legs with the bilateral code and the one arm with the unilateral code, you are reporting separate anatomic areas, so you may override the edit.
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