Anesthesia Coding Alert

Look at Discography Levels to Correctly Report 72285 and 72295

Subscriber Question: The descriptors for codes CPT 62290 and CPT 62291 specify "each level." Should we report related codes 72285 and 72295 per level as well, or once per session?


Answer: Per level reporting is appropriate for 72285 (Discography, cervical or thoracic, radiological supervision and interpretation) and 72295 (Discography, lumbar, radiological supervision and interpretation). To answer your question, yes, you may report the radiological supervision and interpretation codes once per level, just as you do injection codes 62290 (Injection procedure for discography, each level; lumbar) and 62291 (... cervical or thoracic).

Support: The March 2010 CPT® Assistant describes discography and offers a coding example for a three-level lumbar discography for payers who allow use of modifier 51 (Multiple procedures):

62290
62290-51 x 2
72295
72295-51 x 2.


Different payers may have different preferences for how you report multiple procedures covered [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in Revenue Cycle Insider
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more

Other Articles in this issue of

Anesthesia Coding Alert

View All