Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: We've had several charges lately for epidural injections under anesthesia. The physician administering the injection is not affiliated with our anesthesia group, and did not document any type of guidance. One of our physicians handled the anesthesia. What anesthesia code should we report?

Rhode Island Subscriber

Answer: According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, anesthesia care for epidural steroid injections is warranted only in unusual circumstances, such as "major co-morbidities and mental or psychological impediments to cooperation." If documentation supports the need for separate anesthesia care, you have two anesthesia code choices, depending on the patient's position during the injection. For the prone position, submit 01992 (Anesthesia for diagnostic or therapeutic nerve blocks and injections [when block or injection is performed by a different provider]; prone position). For any other position than prone, submit 01991 (... other than the prone position).