I70.409
BillableUnspecified atherosclerosis of autologous vein bypass graft(s) of the extremities, unspecified extremity
HCC Category Mapping
V24HCC 108 — Vascular Disease
0.297ESRDHCC 108 — Vascular Disease
0.000What This Code Means
Fatty buildup in a vein graft of an extremity, but the specific location is not clearly documented.
Coding Tips
- •Use only when the extremity location cannot be determined from medical record documentation
- •Query the provider if possible to obtain more specific anatomical location for accurate coding
Clinical Significance
This code identifies atherosclerosis in autologous vein bypass grafts without further specification of the clinical manifestation. While less specific than codes indicating claudication, rest pain, or ulceration, it still documents significant vascular disease requiring ongoing surveillance. Coders should query for specificity whenever possible, as more specific codes may carry higher risk adjustment value.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation of peripheral arterial disease or atherosclerosis affecting the bypass graft
- ✓Identification of graft type as autologous vein (if autologous vein is confirmed, document the vein source; if type is unknown, document it as unspecified)
- ✓Any associated symptoms or complications should be documented for specificity
- ✓Vascular studies or imaging documenting graft atherosclerosis
- ✓History of bypass graft surgery with date and indication when available
Commonly Confused Codes
I70.3xx (unspecified type bypass graft codes) — Use I70.3xx when the graft type is not documented; use I70.4xx (autologous vein) only when the graft is confirmed as the patient's own veinI70.5xx (nonautologous biological bypass graft codes) — Use when the graft is a biological material from a donor (cadaveric vein, bovine graft), not the patient's own veinI70.6xx (nonbiological bypass graft codes) — Use for synthetic grafts such as polytetrafluoroethylene or Dacron, not for autologous vein graftsI70.2xx (native artery atherosclerosis codes) — Use for atherosclerosis of native arteries, not bypass grafts; verify whether disease is in the graft or native vessel
Code Hierarchy
└I70Atherosclerosis└I70.4Atherosclerosis of autologous vein bypass graft(s) of the extremities└I70.40Unspecified atherosclerosis of autologous vein bypass graft(s) of the extremities└I70.409Unspecified atherosclerosis of autologous vein bypass graft(s) of the extremities, unspecified extremity
└I70.409Unspecified atherosclerosis of autologous vein bypass graft(s) of the extremities, unspecified extremity