Ask Dr. Z

Patient comes in with aphasia and has CTA, which shows occlusive thrombus distally within the M1 branch of the right middle cerebral artery, with reconstitution of M2 branches and non-occlusive thrombus within the basilar tip. Patient is taken to IR suite, and a thrombectomy and stent placement are performed of MCA. He also states, "I did look of the left vertebral of the demonstrated nonflow-limiting basilar embolus, which I decided not to treat." I coded 61645 and 61635, and I need to know if the vertebral angiography should be coded as diagnostic. I don't think we would code it because it was know,n but others say it should be coded because he looked at it and decided not to treat. Please advise.