Anesthesia Coding Alert

Latest coding edits change modifiers for hundreds of pairs.

The latest Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits – version 19.1,  effective April 1, 2013 alter your anesthesia coding in two areas: epidural reporting and if you code chemodenervation for a pain management specialist.

Watch Whether You Can Report Epidural With a Multitude of Services

Edits involving modifier changes aren’t always big news, but the ones for CCI 19.1 are for anesthesia coders. Almost 300 new edits are in effect for epidural procedures:

·         62310 — Injection(s), of diagnostic or therapeutic substance(s) (including anesthetic, antispasmodic, opioid, steroid, other solution), not including neurolytic substances, including needle or catheter placement, includes contrast for localization when performed, epidural or subarachnoid; cervical or thoracic

·         62311 — … lumbar or sacral (caudal)

·         62318 — Injection(s), including indwelling catheter placement, continuous infusion or intermittent bolus, of diagnostic or therapeutic substance(s) (including anesthetic, antispasmodic, opioid, steroid, other solution), not including neurolytic substances, includes contrast for localization when performed, epidural or subarachnoid; cervical or thoracic

·         62319 — … lumbar or sacral (caudal).

“The modifier changes proved to be a bit of a bummer, as all 278 of the edits affected went from a value of ‘1’ (you may use a modifier, where appropriate) to a value of ‘0’ (you can never use a modifier, even if appropriate),” says Frank Cohen, principal and senior analyst for The Frank Cohen Group in Florida.

Affected procedures range from instrumentation surgery and pacing electrode insertion to central venous catheter insertion and internal hemorrhoid destruction. Check the full list of CCI edits for a complete look at procedures.

Silver lining: The rationale for edits is “Anesthesia service included in surgical procedure.” The edits, however, only apply when the same physician completes the procedure and administers the epidural. If you code separately for an anesthesiologist to administer the epidural, you can bill for his service.

New Code 64615 Adds Edit Pairs

If you code for a physician who performs chemodenervation, don’t miss the new edits associated with 64615 (Chemodenervation of muscle[s]; muscle[s] innervated by facial, trigeminal, cervical spinal and accessory nerves, bilateral [e.g., for chronic migraine]).

No bypass possible: Two of the edits pair 64615 with other chemodenervation codes 64613 (Chemodenervation of muscle[s]; neck muscle[s] [e.g., for spasmodic torticollis, spasmodic dysphonia]) and 64614 (…extremity and/or trunk muscle[s] [e.g., for dystonia, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis]). Both edits list 64615 as the Column 1 code, meaning you should report it instead of the other procedure if the physician completes both services during the same encounter. The edits carry a modifier indicator of “0,” so you cannot append a modifier in hopes of breaking the edit and getting paid for both procedures. The reasoning for the “0” modifier is “CPT^® manual or CMS manual coding instructions.”

Bypass option: Approximately 20 other edits involving 64615 are classified with modifier indicator “1,” which means you can sometimes append a modifier to break the edit and report both services. The most appropriate modifier will depend on the situation, but coders often turn to modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service).

Some of the edits in these pairs that you might be able to unbundle and report with 64615 include:

·         92585 — Auditory evoked potentials for evoked response audiometry and/or testing of the central nervous system; comprehensive

·         95822 — Electroencephalogram (EEG); recording in coma or sleep only

·         95907 — Nerve conduction studies; 1-2 studies

·         95925 — Short-latency somatosensory evoked potential study, stimulation of any/all peripheral nerves or skin sites, recording from the central nervous system; in upper limbs 

·         95928 — Central motor evoked potential study (transcranial motor stimulation); upper limbs 

·         95938 — … in upper and lower limbs.  

Bottom line: “There’s not much activity for CCI release 19.1,” Cohen adds. “In fact, this is probably the smallest impact I have seen since the beginning of the program.”