Anesthesia Coding Alert
Reader Question:
Anesthesia Code for 64450*
Published on Tue May 01, 2001
Question: Is there an applicable anesthesia code for procedure 64450*? The primary procedure was 25575 (open treatment of radial AND ulnar shaft fractures, with internal or external fixation; of radius AND ulna), but Medicare is asking for an anesthesia code for 64450*.
Illinois Subscriber
Answer: Based on the codes you list, it sounds as if youre administering a nerve block for pain management (postoperatively). If thats the case, 64450* (injection, anesthetic agent; other peripheral nerve or branch) is not related to the base or code for anesthesia. Report it as 64450*-59 (appending modifier -59 for distinct procedural service) and include an applicable ICD-9 code for pain, such as 729.5 (pain in limb) or 813.XX (codes related to fracture of radius and ulna).
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