Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: The anesthesiologist placed an IV for saline and monitored the patient's vital signs, but did not administer any anesthesia agents. We cannot report 99360 because the anesthesiologist was directing CRNAs at the same time. Can we report anything for his work?

South Carolina Subscriber

Answer: You are correct in saying you can't report 99360 (Physician standby service, requiring prolonged physician attendance, each 30 minutes [e.g., operative standby, standby for frozen section, for cesarean/high risk delivery, for monitoring EEG]) because the anesthesiologist was medically directing CRNAs at the same time (the physician cannot provide any other care or service if you report standby).

You might be able to bill for the line placement if the IV start was an emergency of short duration in the immediate area and was the only service the anesthesiologist provided (the service must meet those criteria because of the physician's medical direction status). If the anesthesiologist placed the IV as part of the patient's surgical preparation, line placement is included in the surgery's base value.

If you're able to report the line placement, submit 36000 (Introduction of needle or intracatheter, vein).