Anesthesia Coding Alert
Know Injection Location Before Coding
Question: How should I report bilateral spermatic cord injections with bupivicaine and methylprednisolone?
Indiana Subscriber
Answer: Base your coding on the type of medication used and the injection location. If the physician administered an ilioinguinal-iliohypogastric injection, report 64425 (Injection, anesthetic agent; ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric nerves). Check with the physician before coding the procedure if you aren't certain of the injection location so you can report it correctly.
HCPCS includes several codes for methylprednisolone; report the appropriate code from J1020-J1040 (Injection, methylprednisolone acetate), depending on the injection amount. Code S0020 (Injection, bupivicaine HCl, 30 ml) applies to bupivacaine; however, some carriers prefer J3590 (Unclassified biologics) instead.
Note: Medicare usually bundles these injections, so check with the carrier before filing them separately.
Anesthesia Coding Alert
- Coding Update:
Will You Be Ready to Begin Using CPT 2005 on Jan. 1? Gauge New Codes' Effects Today
Plus: 5 new codes you won't find in the anesthesia section but need to know [...] - You Be the Coder:
Intubation and Extubation by Different Groups
Question: Our anesthesiologist extubated a patient who was intubated by a physician in a different [...] - 2005 Update:
Carve Out Your Stance on Category III Codes
You decide how influential these new codes will be for your practice CPT 2005 has [...] - Injection Tip Time:
Bolster Revenue With Correct Facet Coding
3 areas will make or break your claims
With facet injections often [...] - Clip-and-Save Chart:
Save Time Coding Facet Injections With This Coding Tool
Hint: Location, number and substance are key
Several factors come into play when you're successfully coding [...] - Reader Question:
Don't Expect Pay for Foley Catheter Insertion
Question: Is insertion of a Foley catheter considered part of the basic anesthesia service? The [...] - Reader Question:
Pick From Several Codes for Pectoralis Repair
Question: What diagnosis and procedure codes apply to open repair of pectoralis major tendon rupture? - Reader Question:
BIS Is Usually Routine Monitoring
Question: What is a BIS monitor? Can we bill it separately from other services?
Michigan Subscriber [...] - Reader Question:
Untangle Performance Modifiers
Question: The anesthesiologist began an ICD (implanted cardiac defibrillator, also called automatic internal cardiodefibrillator or [...] - Reader Question:
Get Details for Reporting Groshong Catheter
Question: What code do I use for a Groshong catheter placement? I am not sure [...] - Reader Question:
Split Time, No Procedure = Discontinuous Time
Question: Our physician tended a patient under anesthesia for about two hours for a craniotomy. [...] - Reader Question:
Add Modifier -59 for Lumbar Drain
Question: How should I report a lumbar drain that the physician placed in addition to [...] - Are You Ready for These CPT 2005 Changes?
Never-before-seen acupuncture codes take the stage Practices got hit hard with an onslaught of new [...] - Reimbursement Report:
Celebrate! You Could Receive Up to 50 Percent More in 2005
But brace your offices for 3 areas where you could be hit hard
When it comes [...] - You Be the Coder:
Know When to Bill 01996
Question: The anesthesiologist made a change in a patient's post-op medication being administered through a [...] - You Do the Math:
If the CF Is Up, Why Is Pay Possibly Down?
Key: Increased risk may mean loss If you take time to compare facility and non-facility [...] - Options Check:
Simplify Submitting Unlisted-Procedure Codes
4 critical ways to combat carrier challenges
Every coder has experienced the [...] - Clip-and-Save List:
Check 4 Areas for Unlisted- Procedure Reimbursement
Start-to-finish steps to help your claim pass muster Following tried-and-true coding methods is one of [...] - Reader Question:
Code Piriformis Injections as TPIs
Question: One of our physicians performs bilateral injections to the piriformis muscle, bilateral injections to [...] - Reader Question:
Know Injection Location Before Coding
Question: How should I report bilateral spermatic cord injections with bupivicaine and methylprednisolone?
Indiana Subscriber Answer: [...] - Reader Question:
Billing E/M with First Series Procedure OK?
Question: I've read things that seem to indicate that I can bill an E/M visit [...] - Reader Question:
Code Lumbar Sympathetic and Chain Blocks the Same
Question: How should I code a lumbar sympathetic chain block? What is the difference between [...]
