How would you code bilateral carotid artery disease? I have always used 433.10 because it specifies carotid...never gave a thought to 433.30 because it says "multiple and bilateral". Which is correct?
You code both 433.10 AND 433.30. See the following coding clinic 1st quarter 2006:
"VOLUME 23 FIRST QUARTER
NUMBER 1 2006, Page 17
Clarification - Bilateral Carotid Artery Stenosis
Question: A correction notice published in Coding Clinic Second Quarter 2002, page 19, instructs to assign code 433.30, Occlusion and stenosis of precerebral arteries, multiple and bilateral, without mention of cerebral infarction, for bilateral carotid artery stenosis instead of code 433.10, Occlusion and stenosis of precerebral arteries, carotid artery, without mention of cerebral infarction. However, if we assign code 433.30, Medicare is denying our claims. What is the correct way to code bilateral carotid artery stenosis?
Answer: Assign code 433.10, Occlusion and stenosis of precerebral arteries, carotid artery, without mention of cerebral infarction, for carotid artery stenosis. Code 433.30, Occlusion and stenosis of precerebral arteries, multiple and bilateral, without mention of cerebral infarction, may be assigned as an additional diagnosis to further describe the laterality. Assigning both codes will allow information on both the specific artery involved and the laterality to be captured."
Hope this helps!