Ask Dr. Z

In your book, it states that 93975 is to be used when one or more organs are evaluated. A Q&A on your site quotes ACR as stating that when an organ is bilateral, both must be evaluated and documented in order to code a complete. An ACR Q&A also states that CPT code 93975 can be used whether single or multiple organs are studied. It is a complete procedure in that all major vessels supplying blood flow to the organ are evaluated. If the study is only a partial eval, then the limited code 93976 is billed. Unable to find this documentation on ACR’s website regarding the bilateral organ requirement, is there a reference to that source? How would we code the following scenarios? If a patient has had an ovary removed, or the report states one ovary is not seen, but the other ovary was seen and arterial/venous flow documented, can we code a complete? If one ovary was unseen due and the reason is documented, can we code a complete? Does duplex follow the same rules as a complete US in that if the reason for non-visualization is documented, then a complete can still be coded?