Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: What is a BIS monitor? Can we bill it separately from other services?

Michigan Subscriber

Answer: BIS is the Bispectral Index System that monitors brain activity during anesthesia. It helps the anesthesia provider determine the safest amount of anesthetic agent to administer for optimum sedation and a quicker arousal. BIS is a noninvasive monitoring technique. According to the ASA's Relative Value Guide's "Basic Value" definition, basic anesthesia service includes BIS monitoring. You don't usually bill for it unless you have special arrangements with a carrier.