Anesthesia Coding Alert

Bonus: Prepare for neonate hypothermia options in Jan. 2011.July brings announcements regarding new Category III codes, so prepare now for new transforaminal epidural and hypothermia codes just going into effect or that you'll use beginning Jan. 1, 2011.Start Using New Transforaminal ChoicesThe American Medical Association (AMA) released four new transforaminal injection codes in January. They went into effect July 1, so update your systems accordingly:0228T -- Injection(s), anesthetic agent and/or steroid, transforaminal epidural, with ultrasound guidance, cervical or thoracic; single level0229T -- ... each additional level (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)0230T -- Injection(s), anesthetic agent and/or steroid, transforaminal epidural, with ultrasound guidance, lumbar or sacral; single level0231T -- ... each additional level (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure).The additions finally give coders specific choices for epidural steroid injections, says Catherine Brink, BS, CPC, CMM, CMSCS, president of Healthcare Resource Management, Inc., in Spring Lake, N.J.Before filing your [...]