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Radiology Coding Alert

Part 1:

Clinch Endovascular AAA Repair Code by Asking 5 Key Questions

Published on Fri Nov 11, 2011

These diagrams help you distinguish 34800-34805 services at a glance. If you can recognize the prosthesis type used for an endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair, choosing the proper code is a piece of cake. And with Medicare's national reimbursement rates ranging from $1,158 for 34800 (Endovascular repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm or dissection; using aortoaortic tube prosthesis) to $1,285 for 34803 (... using modular bifurcated prosthesis [two docking limbs]), you'll want to be sure to put these five answers to work for you. Question 1: Is the Graft in the Aorta Only? First, you should determine whether: • the radiologist places the prosthesis in the abdominal aorta only, or • a portion of the prosthesis extends into one or more of the iliac (or possibly renal) arteries. As illustrated (Fig. 1), the abdominal aorta branches into the common iliac arteries below the renal arteries. If the abdominal aorta [...]
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