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Anesthesia Coding Alert

CPT® 2017:
Remember Depths When Coding for Moderate Sedation
Pay special attention to documentation terminology. With new moderate sedation codes g... Read more
Reimbursement:
MACRA Is Coming, So Here's What You Need to Know
Start submitting with 2017 data to avoid penalties. January won’t just bring upd... Read more
Collections:
Do You Know the Best Time to Reconcile A/R?
Get the timing right and the best person in place for the job. It’s not unusual ... Read more
Reader Question:
Match Anesthesiologist and CRNA Codes for C-section Case
Question: The anesthesiologist provided the epidural for the labor portion of a del... Read more
Reader Question:
Anesthesia for 64640 Should Be 01991
Question: I have a CRNA who provides MAC anesthesia for pain procedures. He has had... Read more
Reader Question:
Claims for OB Anesthesia Need Multiple Diagnoses
Question: I am billing for anesthesia providers who only perform OB anesthesia. I a... Read more
Reader Question:
Don't Miss Modifier 51 Opportunities for Fluoroscopic Injections
Question: Our physician recently performed multiple arthroscopic injections, and the enc... Read more
Reader Question:
Understand 'Social Engineering' and Its Potential Threat
Question: I recently heard about “social engineering” as a security thr... Read more
Reader Question:
Post-op Pain Relief Could Be Coded as 99231
Question: Our providers are now doing a different nerve block for postoperative pai... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Anesthesiologist's Role Rules How to Report Intubation EUA
Question: What procedure code should I report for intubation EUA (examination under... Read more
CPT® Update:
2017 Will Bring an Overhaul to Your Epidural Coding
Plus: Don’t overlook the moderate sedation changes. The American Medical Associa... Read more
Patient Care:
Get Clear on How to Apply Telemedicine Definitions
Hint: Start by separating phone from online services. The term “telemedicine&rd... Read more
Reader Question:
Go With 00940 for Manual Uterine Inversion
Question: What is the correct anesthesia code for a manual uterine inversion? Ken... Read more
Reader Question:
Steer Clear of Submitting 64487 With 64488
Question: If the anesthesiologist administered 64488 (bilateral, by injection) and ... Read more
Reader Question:
File G89.18 for Post-op Pain Management Care
Question: Our anesthesiologists use ultrasound guidance when placing nerve blocks f... Read more
Reader Question:
CRNAs Must Sign Off on Their Own Documentation
Question: Some of our CRNAs have a habit of documenting their work on the patient&r... Read more
Reader Question:
Myelography Procedure 62304 Crosses to ASA 01935
Question: Our physician administered anesthesia for lumbosacral myelography. What is ... Read more
Reader Question:
Work Through Details, Then Select Injection Guidance Code
Question: A new patient reported to our physician complaining of pain in his right ... Read more
Reader Question:
Modifier 50 Works With Nerve Blocks, Not Anesthesia Codes
Question: A surgeon completed bilateral knee replacements and asked our pain manage... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Report 99231 Once Daily, Except for Catheter Insertion Day
Question: Our providers have changed how they’re handling some post-op anesth... Read more
Qualifying Circumstances:
Keep This Advice in Mind Before Claiming 'Emergency' With +99140
Being able to include one of the qualifying circumstances (QC) codes with a claim could ... Read more
CPT® 2017:
Watch Whether New Injection Codes Will Change Your Reporting
Here’s the scoop on a few more choices you’ll be adding. The official rele... Read more
ICD-10:
Follow 3 Steps When Selecting Spinal Disc Disorder Codes
Hint: Base your choice on pathology and anatomical location. When you have the need to... Read more
Reader Question:
Check Whether Payer Wants 00740 or 00810 on the Claim
Question: Our physician administered anesthesia for a patient who had a screening c... Read more
Reader Question:
Confirm Details Before Filing 62273 for Same-Day Blood Patch
Question: How do I code an epidural blood patch procedure on the same day as l... Read more
Reader Question:
Let Payer Guide TEE Code Submission
Question: Is transesophageal echocardiography included in basic anesthesia administ... Read more
Reader Question:
Include Modifier SA for Supervised NP Services
Question: We employ a nurse practitioner (NP) at our office to assist our pain mana... Read more
Reader Question:
Don't Panic Over Being Contacted by OCR - Yet
Question: Our office recently received a contact verification email from OCR. Does ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Steer Clear of Reporting 27447 With 64447
Question: Our anesthesiologists are using ultrasound guidance when administering po... Read more
CPT® 2017:
Here's a Sneak Peek at What Could Be Coming in January
The predicted epidural changes might become reality. The AMA has released pre-producti... Read more
Patient Care:
Key In to These 4 Points Regarding Post-op Care
Clear documentation of each phase should help your reimbursement chances. When your an... Read more
ICD-10:
Watch for Vascular System Changes That Will Affect Your Diagnosis Selection
Hint: You’ll need to pay even closer attention to the surgeon’s record. Th... Read more
Compliance:
Keep Yourself in the Clear By Avoiding OCR Hot Spots
Take note of the areas HHS will be watching. Are you guilty of one of the top-six HIPA... Read more
Reader Question:
Consider 00790 for Sigmoid Colectomy Anesthesia
Question: I have a chart with the following description of the procedure performed: Sig... Read more
Reader Question:
Remember This Before Appending Q Modifier
Question: Can you remind me of the rules of field avoidance? What is required for d... Read more
Reader Question:
Determine Whether 01967 or 62319 Is Better for Labor With No Delivery
Question: An expectant mom came to the hospital at the 37-week mark and was given a... Read more
Reader Question:
Cancellation Rules Stay the Same, Despite Self-Pay Status
Question: I have a cosmetic case that cancelled after the pre-op exam but before in... Read more
Reader Question:
You Can Sometimes Use JW for Discarded Drugs
Question: The pain management specialist we code for is losing quite a bit of money on d... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Remember This Before Appending Q Modifier
Question: I have a case where an anesthesiologist is supervising a CRNA for only th... Read more
Pain Management:
Follow This Advice for Successful Post-op Pain Management Claims
Tip: Pay particular attention to every bit of documentation. Even if your anesthesiolo... Read more
ICD-10:
Go Beyond 'Morbid Obesity' for Bariatric Surgery Patients
A single diagnosis isn’t sufficient justification under ICD-10. “Morbid ob... Read more
Technology:
Keep 3 Points in Mind When Considering an EHR Shift
Do your legwork to make sure what you get is what you need. Switching your practice to... Read more
Reader Question:
Append Modifier 59 for Central and A-Lines
Question: How should we bill for IV replacement when it is documented in the physic... Read more
Reader Question:
Bill by the Anesthesiologist Spending the Longest Amount of Time
Question: Two of our anesthesiologists were involved in a surgical procedure. The f... Read more
Reader Question:
Remember Teaching Must Be One-on-One
Question: How do we code when a teaching physician is involved in a single anesthes... Read more
Reader Question:
Select 64448 for Bilateral Femoral Nerve Blocks
Question: A surgeon completed bilateral knee replacements and asked us to administe... Read more
Reader Question:
Anesthesia Code 00561 Includes Hypothermia
Question: Is hypothermia care included in 00561? North Dakota Subscriber Answer... Read more
Reader Question:
Add Specific Modifiers for Screening Colonoscopy Anesthesia
Question: What is the guideline for reporting anesthesia during a screening colonos... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Choose the Correct Modifier for CRNA Service
Question: Which modifier should we use when CRNAs are involved in a case? Ohio Su... Read more
ICD-10:
Start Looking at Your Potential Diagnosis Changes for October
Search beyond ‘anesthesia’ for codes that could affect your claims. The fi... Read more
Compliance:
Use This 8-Point Guide to Strengthen Your HIPAA Training
Remember that every employee needs refreshers. Every person in your practice – p... Read more
Reader Question:
Crosswalk to Correct Anesthesia Code to Find Base Unit
Question: A young woman had an accident while skiing that led to her left shoulder ... Read more
Reader Question:
Watch for the Concurrent Cases to Correctly Append the Modifiers
Question: How do the anesthesia modifiers help us to differentiate between medical ... Read more
Reader Question:
Encourage Thorough Documentation for 'Bilateral' 62311
Question: How do I capture the “bilateral” portion of 62311? The descri... Read more
Reader Question:
Note the Age for Pediatric Patient When Achieving Hypothermia
Question: How do we code when we have to use a pump oxygenator to achieve hypotherm... Read more
Reader Question:
Identify the Sinus Tarsi Injection Location
Question: How do you code for sinus tarsi injection? North Carolina Subscriber ... Read more
Reader Question:
Pay Attention to Global Period for 62350 Follow-Up
Question: Our physician completed a revision of a tunneled spinal epidural catheter... Read more
Reader Question:
Follow This Advice With BAs for Phase 2 HIPAA Audits
Question: When the Phase 2 HIPAA audits move to business associates (BAs), does our... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Check These Options for Percutaneous Image Guided Procedures
Question: What are the differences between codes 01935 and 01936? California Subs... Read more
Modifier Focus:
Get Answers to Your Top Questions About P Modifiers
Educate providers so they use the same classification guidelines. Many aspects of ane... Read more
Physical Status:
Focus on P Modifiers for Data, Not Dollars
But don’t forget that some insurers will reimburse for higher levels. Physical s... Read more
ICD-10:
Don't Miss Out on Reimbursement for Parkinson's
Plus: You might need to include modifier 22 on your claim. Sometimes your anesthesia p... Read more
Patient Relations:
Keep 4 Points in Mind When Filling Medical Record Requests
Tip: See it as a chance to improve patient relationships. Patients who request access ... Read more
Reader Question:
Learn to Distinguish QX From QZ
Question: I am new to anesthesia billing and still trying to understand some of the... Read more
Reader Question:
Choose 00910 for Anesthesia During UroLift Procedure
Question: What anesthesia code should we use for surgery involving a UroLift? Mis... Read more
Reader Question:
Here's How Split Billing Works
Question: Can you help me understand how insurance companies process a 50/50 split ... Read more
Reader Question:
Yes, Ultrasound Guidance Is Allowed With Line Placements
Question: Some of our physicians say that they are able to bill 36620 with an ultra... Read more
Reader Question:
Private Payer Will Take Modifier 33 With 00810
Question: A patient was seen for a screening colonoscopy. Can I use modifier 33 wit... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Watch Your Handling of Same-Day Return to Surgery
Question: I’m coding for a Medicare patient who required surgery for a prosth... Read more
Coding Edits:
Pay Attention to the Newest CCI Pairs for Pain Management
Just because you don’t find 00XXX codes doesn’t mean you should ignore edits... Read more
Code Update:
Prepare Now for ICD-10 Additions in October
Say good-bye to the code freeze – especially for cardiology claims. The five-yea... Read more
ICD-10:
Dig Into G56 for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Diagnoses
Heads up: Don’t ignore categories with associated signs and symptoms. A patient... Read more
Reader Question:
Use 01968 in Conjunction With 01967
Question: An OB patient had an epidural on one day followed by a C-section the next... Read more
Reader Question:
Know Who Placed the Line to Bill Separately
Question: Our anesthesiologist initiated a surgery case for a Medicare patient. She... Read more
Reader Question:
Understand How Modifier 22 Connects to ZA and ZC
Question: My claims were denied when I used modifier ZC with anesthesia services. C... Read more
Reader Question:
Verify Whether to Follow HIPAA or State PHI Guides
Question: What should we do if our state law is different from HIPAA regarding fees... Read more
Reader Question:
Watch Which Eye Was Affected for ICD-10 Coding
Question: Our anesthesiologist was present during ophthalmic surgery to remove a fo... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Remember Your Other Choice for TEE Monitoring
Question: Can you explain to me what TEE monitoring is and how I code for it? Was... Read more
Anesthesia 101:
Move Past These 5 Myths About Moderate Sedation
Get clear on everyone’s role in the procedure. CPT® includes several codes f... Read more
Code Options:
Turn to These Choices for Moderate Sedation Services
Watch the time and who administers the sedation. CPT® 2016 includes six codes for ... Read more
ICD-10:
Don't Get Broken Up Over Pathologic Fracture Coding
Start by determining whether it’s traumatic or pathologic. Fracture coding can b... Read more
Compliance:
Get on Board With HIPAA's View of Access Rights
Are you complying with these 6 key aspects? If you’re unsure about when and how ... Read more
Reader Question:
Choose 01991 or 01992 for Anesthesia With Nerve Block
Question: We understand billing for anesthesia in conjunction with a paraspinal ner... Read more
Reader Question:
Report the Anesthesia Code With More Base Units
Question: We submitted both 00740 and 00810 for anesthesia during a procedure, but ... Read more
Reader Question:
Always Report C-Section Code When a Planned Vaginal Delivery Changes
Question: A patient had an epidural for labor from 17:16 to 22:12, and then a C-sec... Read more
Reader Question:
Get the Rundown on Reporting Epidural Steroid Injections
Question: I’m new to anesthesia and pain management coding, so am learning a ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Same-Day Critical Care and Anesthesia
Question: Can we charge for critical care and anesthesia on the same day by the sam... Read more
Pediatric Care:
Get Answers to 2 Common Peds Anesthesia Scenarios
Plus, here’s your refresher on when to possibly include +99100. Providing anesth... Read more
ICD-10:
Crohn's Disease Brings Complications, But Don't Let It Complicate Your Coding
Now you can get more specific with a 6th digit. Providing anesthesia for a patient wit... Read more
Case Study:
Learn From This HIPAA Case to Avoid Paying the Same Penalties
Take care: OCR is stepping up its enforcement game in wake of OIG reports. If you&rsqu... Read more
Reader Question:
Note the Associated Notes of Codes Descriptors
Question: Is special care for hypothermia included in anesthesia codes? Ohio Subs... Read more
Reader Question:
Capture Bilateral Procedure by Adding Modifier 59 and Documentation
Question: When I use code 62311, how do I capture the “bilateral&rd... Read more
Reader Question:
Remember to Count Correctly for Medial Branch Blocks
Question: How should we code for a medial branch block (MBB) of L2-3, L3-4, and L4-... Read more
Reader Question:
Report Repeat C-section With Z3A
Question: Our provider billed O34.21 and Z 37.0 in connection with a repeat Cesarea... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Know How to Code TIVA
Question: What would the anesthesia code be if the physician administered total int... Read more
CCI 2016:
Beware of Reporting These New Procedure Codes With Anesthesia
New edits reach across the anesthesia spectrum. Anesthesia providers are being hard-hi... Read more
Billing:
Start the New Year With the Right Collections Perspective
Tip: Double check every detail of your patients’ information. You might have mov... Read more
ICD-10:
Get Details From Surgeon to Confirm Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
Heads up: Pay attention to the new Excludes1 note. Knowing that a patient has hyperten... Read more
Reader Question:
Select 01991 for the Supine Position
Question: If the anesthesiologist is providing anesthesia via TIVA or MAC for joint... Read more
Reader Question:
Learn to Calculate TBSA
Question: What are our coding options for a second and third degree burn excision? New... Read more
Reader Question:
Look to 00561 for Your Youngest Pump Oxygenator Patients
Question: Our anesthesiologist used a pump oxygenator to accomplish hypothermia and rewa... Read more
Reader Question:
Report 00470 for Sternal Wire Removal
Question: We provided anesthesia during the exploration of a sterna incision with remova... Read more
Reader Question:
Bolster Documentation Before Reporting Anesthesia for 62304
Question: What is the correct anesthesia code to report for 62304? Indiana Subscriber ... Read more
Reader Question:
Yes, You Can Translate Your Own Handwriting for MAC Review
Question: One of my physicians has handwriting so terrible that I’m afraid of what... Read more
Reader Question:
Brush Up on Your Locum Tenens Criteria
Question: One of our physicians will be taking a six-month sabbatical, so we need to hir... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Know When and How to Use P Modifiers
Question: Why do we need to use P modifiers even when we don’t get paid extra for ... Read more
Documentation:
Include All These Details for Cancelled Anesthesia
Remember, timing is everything. As an anesthesia coder, you know you have special cons... Read more
ICD-10:
More Specificity Helps You Report COPD
You’ll still have 7 choices to consider. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (... Read more
Compliance:
Watch 3 Areas in Relation to 2016 OIG Work Plan
Electronic info is under special scrutiny. Details related to electronic protected he... Read more
Reader Question:
Refresh Your Knowledge of Qualifying Circumstances
Question: What are “qualifying circumstances for anesthesia,” and when ... Read more
Reader Question:
Know When Modifier PT Applies to Colonoscopy
Question: A new Medicare patient was scheduled for a routine screening colonoscopy ... Read more
Reader Question:
Avoid Denials for Field Avoidance
Question: Are there certain codes to bill for the field avoidance? What kind of doc... Read more
Reader Question:
Carefully Calculate Time for Anesthesia Services
Question: Our physician provided anesthesia during an exploration of the pericardia... Read more
Reader Question:
Look at Kenalog Strength to Calculate Units
Question: Our physician administered 2 mL of 0.75% Marcaine and 0.25mL of Kenalog f... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Know How to Manage Postoperative Pain Management Services
Question: Can we separately bill for postoperative pain management services by the ... Read more
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