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Anesthesia Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Identify Administration Type for Nerve Block

Published on Tue Oct 17, 2006

Question: What is the correct code for a diagnostic nerve block of the brachial plexus when our pain specialist administers the block through catheter infusion? 
 

South Dakota Subscriber

  
Answer: The proper code for this procedure is 64416 (Injection, anesthetic agent; brachial plexus, continuous infusion by catheter [including catheter placement] including daily management for anesthetic agent administration).
 
Your pain management specialist might perform nerve blocks for either diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, but the reason for the block does not affect your coding. But you should pay attention to how the physician administers the block to determine the correct code.

Easy finds: CPT lists each of the continuous infusion nerve block codes within the anesthetic agent injection category, immediately following the code that describes an injection block of the same nerve. Example: CPT lists 64416 (for continuous infusion) directly beneath 64415 (for a single-injection brachial plexus block).
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