Anesthesia Coding Alert
Independent Medical Exams
Question: A pain management group has asked our physician to perform IMEs (independent medical exams) for their patients. How should we code for this? Nebraska Subscriber Answer: Independent medical examinations are performed as a baseline for life and/or disability certification, or to determine a patient's percentage of disability related to bodily injuries or disease. A code from 99450-99456 (the section of E/M codes related to Special Evaluation and Management Services) is used, depending on whether the exam is work-related, a disability evaluation or a basic life and/or disability evaluation for life insurance. IMEs are not usually performed by anesthesiologists. These exams should be referred to QME physicians (qualified medical examiners).
Anesthesia Coding Alert
- Tiny Incisions, Big Decisions:
Are You Coding IR Procedures Correctly?
CPT Codes 2003 is coming out next month, but some coders are still trying to [...] - Is the Procedure Arterial or Venous/Lymphatic?
With the anesthesia codes for interventional radiology distinguishing between arterial and venous/ lymphatic procedures, you [...] - You Be the Coder:
Two-Day Elbow Replacement and Prosthesis Procedure
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Do You Know Which ICD-9 Changes for 2003 Apply to You?
Just as autumn is always marked by changing leaves, the beginning of new school years [...] - How Do ICD-9s Affect Anesthesia?
Most carriers pay claims based on CPT Codes , so ICD-9 Diagnosis Codes [...] - Reader Question:
Removal of Ventral-Wall Mesh
Question: How should I code the removal of ventral-wall infected mesh from a prior recurrent [...] - Reader Question:
Units for Ventilation Assist
Question: Our anesthesiologists are concerned that billing eight units for 94656 (Ventilation assist and management, [...] - Reader Question:
Independent Medical Exams
Question: A pain management group has asked our physician to perform IMEs (independent medical exams) [...] - Reader Question:
Standby Service for OB
Question: How should I bill anesthesia for a patient of extreme age, and anesthesia complicated [...] - Reader Question:
Fluoroscopy With Arthrocentesis
Question: Which modifier should we append for Medicare claims when 76003 (Fluoroscopic guidance for needle [...] - Reader Question:
Allocating Physician Time
Question: An anesthesiologist was involved with a case for 18 hours. He was personally performing [...] - Reader Question:
Median Branch Nerve Injection
Question: Which CPT code should we bill for anesthetizing the median branch nerves alone or [...] - Reader Question:
Administering MAC During Epidurals
Question: How should we code when our anesthesiologist provides MAC while another physician (in another [...] - Medicare Modifiers Go Private
Aetna Healthcare broke new ground this summer with its decision to use several modifiers formerly [...] - Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation
