An aneurysm is an abnormal bulge or “ballooning” in the wall of an artery. Most aneurysms occur in the aorta, the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. An aneurysm that occurs in the aorta in the abdomen is called an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Three out of four aortic aneurysms are AAAs.
An AAA occurs when the aorta below the renal arteries expands to a maximal diameter of 3.0 centimeters (cm) or greater. AAAs may be asymptomatic for years, but if left untreated, the continuing extension and thinning of the vessel wall may eventually result in a rupture of the aneurysm. Ultrasound screening of the abdomen has been shown to be a reliable and accurate method for detecting AAAs.
Procedure Codes and Descriptors
G0389 – Ultrasound, B-scan and/or real time with image documentation; for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) ultrasound screening.
Diagnosis Requirements
Although Medicare providers must report a diagnosis code on the claim, there are no specific International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnosis codes that are required for the AAA ultrasound screening. Providers should choose an appropriate ICD-9-CM diagnosis code. Contact the local Medicare Contractor for further guidance.
