Anesthesia Coding Alert
3 Documented Nerve Blocks Leads to 64450 x 3
Question: Three blocks were given during a patient’s wrist procedure (listed in the notes as median, radial, and ulnar). Would each of these be coded as 64450 for a total of three times?
Answer: Because you have documentation of three separate blocks, you can submit 64450 (Injection, anesthetic agent; other peripheral nerve or branch) three times. Be sure to include notes on your claim explaining the different blocks placed.
Reporting 64415 (Injection, anesthetic agent; brachial plexus, single) could be another possibility. A brachial plexus injection is also known as a "nerve block" and is commonly used as a part of a regional anesthesia procedure. It represents a single shot of injection pushed into patient’s brachial area for surgical purposes, before the surgery takes place. Check your provider’s notes again to see if he mentions the brachial plexus area. If so, 64415 might be more appropriate to code than 64450 because it has a more specific descriptor.
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Anesthesia Coding Alert
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