Anesthesia Coding Alert

CCI 18.3 also classifies epidural patches above repairs.The most recent edition of Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits go into effect Oct. 1, with changes applying to how you report A-line or central venous catheter insertion and epidural blood patch injections. Choose A-Line, Cath Insertion Over Wound RepairNearly 50 edits from CCI 18.3 focus on arterial line placement and wound repair. If the anesthesiologist is present and places an A-line during the procedure, report 36620 (Arterial catheterization or cannulation for sampling, monitoring or transfusion [separate procedure]; percutaneous) instead of a code for simple, intermediate, or complex repair. The edit applies to the following codes: 12001-12021 (Simple repair of superficial wounds of scalp, neck, axillae, external genitalia, trunk and/or extremities [including hands and feet] ...) 12031-12057 (Repair, intermediate, wounds of scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities [excluding hands and feet] ...) 13100-+13153 (Repair, complex ...). Four codes for insertion of a tunneled or [...]