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CPT 93971: Limited Extremity Venous Duplex Ultrasound
CPT code 93971 represents a unilateral or limited duplex ultrasound of extremity veins (arm or leg) used to evaluate venous blood flow direction and response to compression maneuvers. This diagnostic imaging code is commonly used in workups for suspected deep vein thrombosis, venous insufficiency, and related extremity venous conditions. Nationally, vascular ultrasound procedures like 93971 are important for timely, noninvasive diagnosis and can impact emergency, outpatient, and specialty vascular care pathways.
Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, United Healthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical context for the code, common service settings, and how 93971 relates to comparable duplex and noninvasive vascular studies. The publication summarizes typical use cases, related procedure codes for bilateral or complete venous studies, and the diagnostic conditions commonly associated with extremity venous duplex imaging.
The content outlines what clinicians and billing staff need to know about service type and typical sites of service for 93971, and orients readers to where this code fits within vascular diagnostic testing. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 93971 describes a unilateral or limited duplex ultrasound scan of extremity veins (arm or leg) performed to characterize blood flow pattern and direction. The study includes assessment of the patient’s response to maneuvers such as compression to evaluate venous patency and reflux.
Service type: Diagnostic vascular ultrasound — limited/extremity venous duplex
Typical site of service: Outpatient imaging center, hospital outpatient department, or clinic-based ultrasound suite
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
Medicare's mean rate of $80.8 sits well below BUCA's average commercial mean of $198.5, indicating Medicare reimbursement for CPT 93971 is roughly $117.7 lower than the broader commercial benchmark. This gap highlights a meaningful separation between federal fee schedules and commercial negotiated levels, with Medicare also displaying a wide inter-locality spread (P25 $21 to P75 $115) across 47 localities.
Dispersion measured by P75–P25 is tightest for Aetna at $99.3 (P75 $132.9 minus P25 $32.6) and widest for Blue Cross Blue Shield at $115.3 (P75 $303.0 minus P25 $198.7). UnitedHealth Group and Cigna show similar mid-level dispersion—UnitedHealth Group range $131.4 and Cigna range $143.2—while BUCA’s commercial distribution range is $121.5 and Medicare’s inter-locality spread is $94.0.