In vascular surgery comes the diagnosis and management of diseases and disorders related to the venous, arterial, or lymphatic system. The vascular surgery only excludes the intracranial and coronary arteries. As this surgery requires precision, the vascular surgery practitioners must have significant experience in all aspects of treating patients with different vascular diseases, including diagnosis, medical treatment, and techniques of reconstructing vascular surgical and endovascular.
In addition, the practitioners of vascular surgery should have vast knowledge and skills to provide proper care to patients who suffer from vascular diseases. This is because a Vascular surgeon should understand the patients’ needs and teach this information to his subordinates. As this field of medicine is complex, this is why vascular surgery coding is also complex, and therefore it requires expert medical coders and the best medical billing company!
Vascular Surgery Coding
According to the Society for Vascular Surgery, the field of vascular surgery includes the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders related to arteries, veins, and lymphatic systems, and only the intracranial and coronary arteries are excluded. So, when it comes to arterial surgery, this procedure encompasses the aorta, arteries, and veins in the following:
- Neck
- Abdomen
- Pelvis
- Legs
- Arms
This is the reason that professionals of vascular surgery should have considerable knowledge as well as experience in order to treat patients with different vascular diseases. It should include diagnosis, treatment, and endovascular and reconstructive vascular procedures. This also implies each procedure in this field has its own vascular surgery billing codes that should be used accurately in order to get reimbursement. Let us now explore the vascular surgery billing guidelines.
The guidelines for the vascular surgery billing state that one should use the following vascular surgery coding in order to report transcatheter peripheral vascular interventions in the lower extremities. The bundled codes have three parts in the vascular surgery coding:
- Iliac
- Femoral/popliteal
- Tibial/peroneal
Each part has its own vascular surgery billing codes, which are given below in the tables:
Iliac Vascular Territory
The first part is the iliac territory; this territory includes three vessels named:
- The internal iliac
- The external iliac
- The common iliac
| Code | Description |
| 37220 | Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, iliac artery, unilateral, initial vessel; with transluminal angioplasty |
| 37221 | Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, iliac artery, unilateral, initial vessel; with transluminal stent placement(s), consists angioplasty within the same vessel when performed |
| +37222 | Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, iliac artery, each additional ipsilateral iliac vessel; with transluminal angioplasty (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) |
| +37223 | Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, iliac artery, each additional ipsilateral iliac vessel; with transluminal stent placement(s), includes angioplasty within the same vessel, when performed (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) |
Code source: American Medical Association. CPT 2021 Professional Edition
Femoral/Popliteal Vascular Territory
The second part consists of the femoral/popliteal; this territory is present in one extremity. The treatment of this part just belongs to one vessel. In case multiple lesions are treated, the medical coder should report only one code and just for the most intensive procedure.
| Code | Description |
| 37224 | Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, femoral, popliteal artery(s), unilateral; with transluminal angioplasty |
| 37225 | Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, femoral, popliteal artery(s), unilateral; with atherectomy, includes angioplasty within the same vessel when performed |
| 37226 | Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, femoral, popliteal artery(s), unilateral; with transluminal stent placement(s), includes angioplasty within the same vessel when performed |
| 37227 | Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, femoral, popliteal artery(s), unilateral; with transluminal stent placement(s) and atherectomy, includes angioplasty within the same vessel when performed. |
Code source: American Medical Association. CPT 2021 Professional Edition
Tibial/Peroneal Territory
Coming towards the third party that is the tibial/peroneal, this territory includes three vessels:
- Anterior tibial
- Posterior tibial
- Peroneal arteries
Here are the codes that should be used in such type of vascular surgery billing:
| Codes | Description |
| 37228 | Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, tibial, peroneal artery, unilateral, initial vessel; with transluminal angioplasty |
| 37229 | Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, tibial, peroneal artery, unilateral, initial vessel; with atherectomy, includes angioplasty within the same vessel when performed |
| 37230 | Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, tibial, peroneal artery, unilateral, initial vessel; with transluminal stent placement(s), includes angioplasty within the same vessel when performed |
| 37231 | Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, tibial, peroneal artery, unilateral, initial vessel; with transluminal stent placement(s) and atherectomy, includes angioplasty within the same vessel when performed |
| +37232 | Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, tibial/peroneal artery, unilateral, each additional vessel; with transluminal angioplasty (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) |
| +37233 | Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, tibial/peroneal artery, unilateral, each additional vessel; with atherectomy, includes angioplasty within the same vessel when performed (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) |
| +37234 | Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, tibial/peroneal artery, unilateral, each additional vessel; with transluminal stent placement(s), includes angioplasty within the same vessel, when performed (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure |
| +37235 | Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, tibial/peroneal artery, unilateral, each additional vessel; with transluminal stent placement(s) and atherectomy, includes angioplasty within the same vessel when performed (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) |
Code source: American Medical Association. CPT 2021 Professional Edition
ICD-10 Vascular Surgery Coding
Here are some additional updates for vascular surgery ICD-10 coding:
| ICD-10-CM | Definition | Short Description |
| Z48.812 | Encounter for surgical aftercare following surgery on the circulatory system | Enter for surgical after the following surgery on the circ sys |
| T81.719A | A complication of unspecified artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter | The complication of unsp artery following a procedure, NEC, init |
| Z98.62 | Peripheral vascular angioplasty status | – |
| T81.7 | Vascular complications following a procedure, not elsewhere classified | Vascular complications following a procedure, NEC |
| Z48.81 | Encounter for surgical aftercare following surgery on specified body systems | Enter for surgical after fol surgery on space body systems |
Vascular Surgery Medical Billing Services
At U Control Billing, we have deep expertise in vascular surgery coding and billing. With our expertise, a medical practice can generate significant revenue. This is because medical billing service is crucial as it supports vascular surgeons. Our expert coders and billers ensure that correct claims are submitted in order to collect payments from payers, insurance companies, or patients. Our medical billing specialists are experts in vascular surgery billing, and therefore with our services, all claims are paid fully and speedily. To know about our billing for vascular surgery services, feel free to contact us!
What Is a Vascular Surgeon?
The avascular surgeon is responsible for treating disorders, diseases, and other issues related to the vascular system. This system includes the network of arteries and veins that are responsible for carrying blood throughout the body.
Surgery is not the only job that a vascular surgeon should do; with that, they also have to advise and prescribe the patients with vascular problems. They can advise them on the treatment, medication, or other ways to treat vascular issues. Each service that the Vascular Surgeon provides has a different vascular surgery billing code.
What Does a Vascular Surgeon Do?
As stated above, an avascular surgeon has to perform the surgery and use other treatments that might range from noninvasive procedures to complicated surgeries. The avascular surgeon is responsible for treating the arteries and veins present in all parts of the body. The only exception is the veins and arteries for the heart and brain, which other specialists handle.
The primary concern of vascular surgeons is to match the patients with the best treatment available. This is because, in many cases, surgery isn’t the best solution, and in addition, vascular surgery billing is also a little challenging. This is why medical billers and coders of vascular surgery medical billing services should be efficient and well-trained. Here are some of the disorders and diseases that are treated by vascular surgeons treat many different conditions, including
Peripheral artery disease
This disease is basically the narrowing of the arteries in the legs or arms of an individual.
Aneurysm
It is a type of bulge or a weak spot present in an artery.
Carotid artery disease
This is a disease in which the arteries in the neck get narrowed.
Atherosclerosis
This happens when plaque builds up inside of arteries. When this happens, it could result in blood flow blockage.
Spider veins
This happens when small webs of veins occur inside an individual’s skin.
Varicose veins
In this condition, a swollen or twisted vein in the legs may cause pain.
Deep vein thrombosis
This happens when there is a blood clot in a vein that is present deep inside your body, like in an individual’s leg.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are vascular surgery billing services?
The avascular surgeon treats patients with a range of problems. This includes life-threatening conditions such as abdominal aortic aneurysms as well as minor illnesses such as varicose veins. The job of the vascular surgeon is very extensive, and therefore, in order to get paid for the vascular surgery services, most practices outsource vascular surgery billing services. These are basically medical billing services that help the practice get paid for the treatment or the service their vascular surgeon has provided.
What do vascular surgeons do?
A Vascular surgeon is well-trained in diagnosing and managing the conditions or disorders related to circulation. This includes disease and disorders of the arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels. So, we can say that vascular surgeons treat all parts of the vascular system, with the exception of the heart and the brain.
What are some of the most common vascular surgery coding errors?
The most common vascular coding mistakes include upcoding, under coding, and unbundling. These vascular surgery coding errors should be avoided in order to get full reimbursement. In order to minimize such errors, contact UControl Billing today!
A couple of years ago, I executed the effective plan of creating a Medical billing and Coding company named U Control Billing. The company aims to bring revolutionary advancements to foster medical billing and coding revenues. As an official member of HIA-LI and MGMA, I feel honored in providing networking opportunities, problem-solving, and improving the revenue management cycle.
0 Comments