I71.23 — Aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta, without rupture
ICD-10-CM
Prior Authorization
No Prior Auth Required
Code is covered without prior authorization (high confidence)
Documentation Required
- The patient's medical record must fully document medical necessity for the cardiac catheterization and support the diagnosis and procedures billed.
- Each claim must include ICD-10-CM diagnosis code(s) that accurately reflect the patient's condition and reason for the procedure and these codes must be linked to the CPT procedure codes on the claim.
- When a referring/ordering physician is required, the name and NPI of the referring/ordering physician must be reported on the claim; for extra-cardiac angiographic services the treating physician's name and NPI must be submitted in items 17/17a of CMS-1500 or electronic equivalent.
- For patients post-heart transplant without evidence of rejection, use primary diagnosis Z09 (follow-up after completed treatment) and secondary diagnosis Z94.1 (heart transplant status); add the underlying disorder code when coding I25.82 or I31.4.
Key Coverage Criteria
- Medicare Part B covers the professional component of cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography when performed in hospital inpatient and outpatient facility settings.
- Diagnostic cardiac catheterization performed in an office setting (where permitted) is covered under Medicare Part B for both professional and technical components.
- Global and technical component procedures are covered under Part B when performed under personal physician supervision in an IDTF, free-standing facility, physician office, or physician-directed clinic (physician present in room for entire procedure).
- Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is indicated when transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) provides inadequate visualization of cardiac anatomy for structures normally visualized by TTE; report ICD-10-CM R93.1 or R93.8 as the primary diagnosis and the cardiac abnormality as a secondary diagnosis.
- TEE is indicated when performed during an open chest (intraoperative) procedure; report ICD-10-CM Z01.89 as the primary diagnosis and the reason for the surgical procedure as the secondary diagnosis.
- Use CPT 93315, 93316, or 93317 for evaluation of congenital cardiac anomalies (these codes are reserved for congenital anomalies only).
20 Active Policies
A57591 — Billing and Coding: Non-Invasive Abdominal / Visceral Vascular Studies
J05
L34623 — Intraoperative Neurophysiological Testing
J05
A57552 — Billing and Coding: Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA)
J05
L35490 — Category III Codes
J05
L34624
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