Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: Our physician placed a spinal drain for spine exposure during a thoracic aneurysm stent graft case. Notes indicate meningitis, but no other conditions. What diagnosis code should we submit?

North Carolina Subscriber

Answer: Because you don't have additional details, your best diagnosis option is 322.9 (Meningitis, unspecified). If your physician placed the spinal drain, report 62272 (Spinal puncture, therapeutic, for drainage of cerebrospinal fluid [by needle or catheter]) for the procedure. Presuming the procedure was an endovascular repair, 01926 (Base 10) is not a bundled service with the placement of the catheter. Make sure the anesthesiologist properly documents the spinal procedure as separate from the usual anesthesia services provided.