Billing and Coding: Peripheral Venous Ultrasound

Peripheral venous ultrasound (including Doppler/duplex, CPT 93971) is the standard test for preoperative evaluation of venous reflux in chronic venous insufficiency and should be coded as limited bilateral or complete unilateral as appropriate. Hand-held Doppler devices that do not produce retrievable bidirectional flow data are part of the physical exam and are not separately billable; multiple duplex and physiologic studies listed (CPT 93970, 93971, 93922, 93923, 93924-93931) may not be billed the same day. Comprehensive documentation—including legible records, provider signature, supporting ICD-10/CPT coding, stored images, a signed final report with impression/comparison, and a treating-provider order per 42 CFR 410.32(a)—is required to support billing.

"Doppler ultrasound (peripheral venous ultrasound) is the standard preoperative test to evaluate venous reflux in patients with chronic venous insufficiency."