Wiki "ABI noncompressible", "ABI nondiagnostic", "ABI unobtainable"

[appleroca]

"ABI noncompressible", "ABI nondiagnostic", "ABI unobtainable"

Hello!

Can anyone tell me the correct CPT code for noninvasive vascular study of extremity arteries without the ABI result (without the index itself) but only with the statement of "ABI noncompressible", or "ABI nondiagnostic", or "ABI unobtainable"? Do we consider these statements as equivalent to having the ABI result? Per AMA, the ABI is a requirement for coding 93922/93923. And based on CPT Assistant, noninvasive vascular testing without an ABI yields to an unlisted CPT code (93998).

 

[Swathi99]

"ABI noncompressible", "ABI nondiagnostic", "ABI unobtainable"

An ABI ≥1.40 is abnormal and a consequence of medial arterial calcification in the lower extremities leading to poor compressibility or “stiffness” of arteries.The phenomenon has also been referred to in the literature as “calcified,” “stiff,” “non compressible,” or “poorly compressible” vessels/arteries.

The terminology i.e, stiffness and non-compressibility is all related to nature of disease but for coding appropriate CPT, all you need to know is levels adopted