Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: How should we bill for IV replacement when it is documented in the physician’s note?

Florida Subscriber

Answer: You cannot report IV replacement separately when billing for anesthesia, as it is already bundled in the service.

Double check the notes to see whether your provider actually documented a different kind of line rather than an IV. For example, you can report central line placement with 36556 (Insertion of non-tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter; age 5 years or older) or 36555 (… younger than 5 years of age), based on the patient’s age. If you are referring to an A-line, file with 36620 (Arterial catheterization or cannulation for sampling, monitoring or transfusion [separate procedure]; percutaneous). For both central and A-lines, also append modifier 59 (Distinct procedure/service) to distinguish the line placement from any other anesthesia-related service.