Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: Which is the best anesthesia code for an SI joint injection?

Wyoming Subscriber

Answer: The ASA has a published statement on Anesthetic Care During Interventional Pain Procedures for Adults that indicates an SI joint injection may not be medically necessary. If this is a pediatric patient or medical necessity is established, check the patient’s position during the injection before selecting the code. If the patient was in a prone or lateral position, choose 01992 (Anesthesia for diagnostic or therapeutic nerve blocks and injections [when block or injection is performed by a different provider or other qualified health care professional]; prone position), which has a base value of 5. For any other patient position, report 01991 (... other than the prone position) with a base value of 3.

Tip: Although ASA published statements are no longer available in the Relative Value Guide® (RVG®), you can obtain up-to-date copies on their website www.asahq.org.