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Anesthesia Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Interscalene Blocks

Published on Sun Oct 01, 2000

Question: Can I bill for interscalene blocks in addition to general anesthesia? The blocks would be administered after the initial procedure, such as for post-op pain.

New York Subscriber

Answer: Yes. For example you can bill for the shoulder and upper extremity surgeries that are known to have a lot of post-operative pain. The proper code to use in this situation is 64415 (injection, anesthetic agent; brachial plexus), also known as a brachial plexus block.

Sources for answers to You Be the Coder and Reader Questions: LaSeille Willard, CPC, Anesthesia Consultants, physician group in Frederick, Md.; Gina Graham, CPC, an anesthesia coding specialist in Hephzibah, Ga.; and Robin Fuqua, CPIC, a certified insurance coder for Anesthesia Consultants, physician group in Escondido, Calif.
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