Anesthesia Coding Alert
Reader Question:
Joint Injection
Published on Tue May 01, 2001
Question: Our pain-management physician documented a sacroiliac joint injection, left side, no x-ray. Solu-medrol and Marcaine were injected. Codes 20610* and 27096 seem to be the best options. What are the differences?
Arkansas Subscriber
Answer: Code 27096 (injection procedure for sacroiliac joint, arthrography and/or anesthetic/steroid) includes arthrography, which is one big difference between the codes. Definitely use 20610* (arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection; major joint or bursa [e.g., shoulder, hip, knee joint, subacromial bursa]) if the injection is administered without contrast and fluoroscopy. If the physician uses both procedures, use code 27096. Both of these codes normally have four base units, but 20610* can carry five units for procedures done on certain areas of the body.
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