Anesthesia Coding Alert
Jejunostomy Tube Removal
Texas Subscriber
Answer: The procedure for removing the tube has no specific code, so an unlisted procedure code such as 01999 (unlisted anesthesia procedure[s]) would be appropriate. You could also treat the removal as monitored anesthesia care (MAC), append modifier -QS (monitored anesthesia care service) and include a letter showing medical necessity for the anesthesia. Another option is to bill for the procedure with an E/M code that reflects the time and effort involved, such as 99212 (office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient).
Anesthesia Coding Alert
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HCPCS 2001 states that modifiers should, or in some cases must, be used to identify [...] - Seven Rules of Medical Direction
Before a case can be considered medically directed, CMS mandates that the anesthesiologist meet several [...] - You Be the Coder:
Modifier -59
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Mutually Exclusive Codes Affected by Edits
The Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits 7.2 released in July 2001 included many changes to [...] - Reader Question:
Exam Before Fluoroscopy
Question: One of our pain management physicians performed an exam of a patients extremely painful [...] - Reader Question:
Conscious Sedation
Question: I know we can charge for conscious sedation (99141) in addition to gastrointestinal procedures. [...] - Reader Question:
IV Access
Question: What supporting diagnosis should be used for IV access by an anesthesiologist?
Maryland Subscriber
Answer: [...] - Reader Question:
Endoscopic Resection
Question: How should I code for anesthesia during a procedure that was diagnosed as left [...] - Reader Question:
Catheter Placement
Question: Can I bill separately for a catheter placed by the medically directing anesthesiologist for [...] - Reader Question:
Jejunostomy Tube Removal
Question: Is there a way to code for the removal of a jejunostomy tube that [...] - Reader Question:
Transected Axillary Artery
Question: What is the correct anesthesia code for the repair of a transected axillary artery [...] - Reader Question:
Different Anesthesiologists During Delivery
Question: How should we code if one anesthesiologist begins a labor epidural and another one [...] - Reader Question:
Myoblock
Question: Which code should be used to report Myoblock (botulinum toxin type B) for chemodenervation? [...] - Reader Question:
Vertobroplasty
Question: The crosswalk code for 22520 (percutaneous vertebroplasty, one vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral injection; [...] - Reader Question:
Numbing Before Anesthesia
Question: Our anesthesiologist uses xylocaine to numb the area before administering the drug for trigger-point [...] - Reader Question:
Highest Specificity, or Match Exactly?
Question: Should a patient's diagnosis be coded to the highest level of specificity, or to [...]
