Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: Can I bill 01992 for anesthesia for 62311?

California Subscriber

Answer: It depends on who performed the epidural injection and who performed the "anesthesia" service. One physician cannot report both the anesthesia services and the surgical procedure if he performs the epidural injection (that becomes a case of conscious sedation instead of anesthesia administration).

If two physicians participate in the procedure, report 62311 (Injection, single [not via indwelling catheter], not including neurolytic substances, with or without contrast [for either localization or epidurography], of diagnostic or therapeutic substance[s] [including anesthetic, antispasmodic, opioid, steroid, other solution], epidural or subarachnoid; lumbar, sacral [caudal]) for the physician administering the epidural injection. Then submit 01992 (Anesthesia for diagnostic or therapeutic nerve blocks and injections [when block or injection is performed by a different provider]; prone position) for the additional professional who provided anesthesia service during the injection procedure.

Having two physicians involved in an epidural injection is unusual, so discuss the situation with the payer in question and verify that each physician's service is clearly documented and necessary.