Anesthesia Coding Alert

Reader Question:

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.
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