ABI CPT Code 93923: The Complete 2026 Billing Guide

The ABI CPT code for a complete bilateral lower-extremity physiologic study is 93923. When your practice performs a full ankle-brachial index evaluation (bilateral segmental pressures and Doppler waveforms measured at three or more anatomic levels, or with provocative maneuvers), you report it with CPT code 93923. This guide explains what the ABI CPT code covers, what documentation supports it, which ICD-10 codes pair with it, and how to read the ABI values your equipment produces. Everything below reflects 2026 coding guidance; always confirm the current descriptor and coverage with the AMA CPT manual and each payer’s policy before you bill.

What is the ABI CPT code?

The ABI CPT code is 93923 — the code for a complete bilateral noninvasive physiologic study of the extremity arteries. In plain terms, 93923 describes a comprehensive, both-sides vascular study of the arms or legs performed at multiple levels or with provocative testing. For peripheral artery disease (PAD) evaluation in the legs, this is the code that matches a complete ankle-brachial index (ABI) test.

It matters that you bill the ABI CPT code that reflects what you actually performed. Code 93923 is reserved for the complete study: three or more anatomic levels (for example, high-thigh, above-knee, below-knee, and ankle) or a study that includes provocative functional maneuvers such as reactive hyperemia or postural testing. A brief, single-level pressure check is a limited study and should not be reported as 93923. Matching the ABI CPT code to the documented service is the single most important step in staying compliant.

What does CPT 93923 include?

CPT 93923 covers a complete, bilateral physiologic assessment of arterial blood flow. A study reported under this ABI CPT code generally documents the following for both limbs:

• Segmental systolic blood pressures at three or more levels of each leg (or arm)
• Doppler waveform analysis or volume plethysmography (pulse-volume recordings) at each level
• Calculation of the ankle-brachial index for each side
• Where indicated, provocative maneuvers such as post-exercise or reactive-hyperemia measurements

The defining feature is completeness. Because 93923 is the complete study, your report must show measurements at multiple levels or the use of provocative maneuvers. A limited, fewer-level study is a different service with a different code, so the level of detail you document determines whether 93923 is the correct ABI CPT code for the encounter. You can review the full code descriptor in coding references such as the AAPC entry for CPT 93923. The related toe-brachial index (TBI) is a separate measurement used when ankle vessels are noncompressible.

When can you bill the ABI CPT code for PAD testing?

You can bill CPT code 93923 when a complete bilateral physiologic study is medically necessary and clearly documented. Payers generally cover the ABI CPT code when the patient has signs, symptoms, or risk factors for peripheral artery disease, such as claudication, non-healing wounds, absent or diminished pedal pulses, or diabetes with additional cardiovascular risk. A diabetic foot exam that reveals diminished pulses is a common trigger for a complete study.

Medical necessity, not routine convenience, drives coverage. Screening entirely asymptomatic, low-risk patients is often non-covered, so the diagnosis you attach to the ABI CPT code must support the study. Because coverage rules vary, review each payer’s local coverage determination (LCD) and confirm frequency limits before you perform and bill the study. Never report the ABI CPT code as a stand-in for a limited study you actually performed; bill the code that matches the documented work.

How do you interpret the ankle-brachial index results?

An ABI of 1.00 to 1.40 is normal, 0.91 to 0.99 is borderline, 0.41 to 0.90 indicates mild-to-moderate PAD, and 0.40 or lower indicates severe PAD. A value above 1.40 suggests noncompressible, calcified arteries (common in patients with diabetes or chronic kidney disease) and is also abnormal. An abnormal ABI below 0.90 is a well-established, independent marker of cardiovascular risk in peer-reviewed PAD research. The interpretation you record is part of the documentation that justifies the ABI CPT code.

For a deeper look at these thresholds, see our guide to normal ankle-brachial index values. Because falsely elevated readings are common in calcified vessels, guidelines recommend adding toe pressures or a toe-brachial index when the ABI is above 1.40.

What documentation supports the 93923 ABI CPT code?

Solid documentation is what protects the ABI CPT code on audit. Your note and the device report should together show:

• The clinical indication (signs, symptoms, or documented risk factors) that establishes medical necessity
• Bilateral measurements at three or more anatomic levels, or the provocative maneuvers performed
• The calculated ankle-brachial index for each side (and toe-brachial index where used)
• A written interpretation and clinical impression by the interpreting provider
• The ordering and supervising provider, plus the date and place of service

If any of those elements is missing, the encounter may not support a complete study. Aligning the record with the complete-study definition is how you keep the 93923 ABI CPT code defensible if a payer requests records. Consistent templates in your CPT coding for in-office diagnostics help every study meet the same standard.

That written interpretation also decides which half of the study you may bill. A practice that owns its equipment and reads its own studies reports the code globally, while a split arrangement calls for a component modifier; our guide to modifier 26 versus modifier TC works through which of the three arrangements a practice is actually in. When you repeat the study for comparison or follow-up, the repeat needs its own modifier; our guide to modifier 76 vs 77 for repeat procedures explains which one to use and how to report it.

Which ICD-10 codes pair with the ABI CPT code?

The ICD-10 code you attach to the ABI CPT code should describe the reason for the study, and the diagnosis must match the documentation. Common pairings include:

• Diagnosed disease: atherosclerosis of native arteries of the extremities (I70.2-) or peripheral vascular disease, unspecified (I73.9)
• Symptoms: intermittent claudication and related lower-limb symptom codes

The table below lists the ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes most commonly reported alongside a complete ABI study, with their official descriptors. Code to the highest level of specificity the record supports, and confirm each code against the applicable payer policy before you submit.

The category headers I70.21 and I70.22 are not billable on their own; report the specific laterality code the record supports. Choose the diagnosis that matches the documented reason for the study, not the ABI value itself.

ICD-10 selection is payer-sensitive, so confirm the covered diagnosis list in the applicable LCD before you submit. The right diagnosis is what connects medical necessity to the ABI CPT code on the claim. Our guide to ABI medical necessity and 93923 documentation walks through the order, the diagnosis, and the signed report a reviewer expects. When coverage is genuinely in doubt before the study is performed, the advance beneficiary notice rules for in-office testing are what let a practice shift financial responsibility to the patient rather than write the charge off.

Is there an ICD-10 code for an abnormal ABI?

No. ICD-10 has no code for an abnormal ABI result by itself. You code the condition or symptom the study documents, not the test finding. When the result points to peripheral artery disease, the diagnoses that usually carry a 93923 claim are peripheral vascular disease, unspecified (I73.9); atherosclerosis of native leg arteries with intermittent claudication (I70.211 for the right leg, I70.213 for both legs); atherosclerosis of the legs with rest pain (I70.221 to I70.223); and, for a patient with diabetes, diabetic peripheral angiopathy (E11.51). Code to the highest level of detail the documentation supports: the category headers I70.2 and L97 are not billable on their own. Covered diagnosis lists vary by Medicare Administrative Contractor, so confirm the codes you plan to use against the applicable LCD before you submit.

Performing complete ABI studies in your practice

Many independent practices perform complete bilateral physiologic studies in-office with a noninvasive vascular testing system rather than referring patients out. Point-of-care systems such as the CMAT Advantage system are built on FDA-cleared component devices and capture ankle and brachial pressures with plethysmography waveforms in a single visit. Studies are run by trained clinical staff under physician supervision, and the physician interprets the results.

Done well, in-office vascular testing lets you evaluate at-risk patients earlier and keep the complete-study workflow consistent, which in turn supports the ABI CPT code when the service is medically necessary. For practices weighing the operational side, in-office diagnostics can also add a compliant ancillary revenue stream when performed and documented appropriately.

Frequently asked questions about the ABI CPT code

What is the CPT code for an ABI test?

A complete bilateral noninvasive physiologic study of the lower-extremity arteries is reported with CPT code 93923. To meet the complete-study definition, the ABI CPT code 93923 requires measurements at three or more anatomic levels or the use of provocative functional maneuvers. A brief single-level pressure check does not qualify as 93923.

What does CPT 93923 describe?

CPT 93923 describes a complete bilateral physiologic study of the arm or leg arteries performed at multiple levels or with provocative testing. For the lower extremities it corresponds to a full ankle-brachial index workup, including segmental pressures, Doppler waveform or plethysmography analysis, and calculation of the ABI for each side.

Is the ABI CPT code covered by Medicare?

CPT 93923 is a covered service when it is medically necessary and supported by documentation. Coverage depends on the patient’s signs, symptoms, or risk factors for peripheral artery disease and on each payer’s local coverage determination. Routine screening of asymptomatic, low-risk patients is often not covered, so confirm current policy and frequency limits with each payer before billing.

Which ICD-10 codes support the ABI CPT code?

The ICD-10 code should reflect the reason for the study. For a diagnosed condition, atherosclerosis of the extremities (I70.2-) or peripheral vascular disease, unspecified (I73.9) are common. Symptom codes such as intermittent claudication may apply. Routine screening of asymptomatic patients is generally not covered, so report the documented symptom or disease code and verify it against the payer’s policy.

What is the CPT code for an arterial Doppler study of the lower extremities, bilateral?

A complete bilateral arterial Doppler study of the lower extremities is reported with CPT 93923 when it meets the complete-study definition: segmental pressures with Doppler waveform or plethysmography recordings at three or more anatomic levels on each leg, or a study performed with provocative maneuvers. “Arterial Doppler” is simply the everyday name many practices use for this physiologic study, and it describes the same workup as a full ankle-brachial index evaluation. Duplex ultrasound imaging of the lower-extremity arteries belongs to a different family of codes than physiologic studies, so confirm that the descriptor matches the study you actually performed and documented, using the current AMA CPT manual and your payer’s policy.

Can an ABI test be performed in the office?

Yes. A complete bilateral ABI study can be performed in-office with a noninvasive vascular testing system, run by trained clinical staff under physician supervision. Performing the study in-office lets a practice evaluate at-risk patients during a routine visit and report the complete study under CPT 93923 when it is clinically indicated and documented.

Ready to add complete ABI testing to your practice?

HealthWright Technologies helps independent physicians add in-office vascular and autonomic testing with full training, implementation, and billing guidance. To see how a complete ABI/PAD workflow could fit your practice, contact our team at contact@healthwrighttechnologies.com or call (678) 322-7146. HealthWright Technologies, 60 Bear Creek Marina Road, Mansfield, GA 30055.

Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes for healthcare professionals and is not billing, coding, legal, or medical advice. CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association (AMA); all CPT codes and descriptions are © the AMA. Code selection, coverage, and reimbursement change over time and vary by payer — verify every code and policy against the current AMA CPT manual and the applicable payer guidelines before billing. Clinical decisions remain the responsibility of the treating provider.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis, treatment, and clinical decision-making.