Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: Our anesthesiologist intubated an intensive care unit patient due to cardiac arrest. What is the correct code, and should we add modifier -23 (Unusual anesthesia) to the claim?

Virginia Subscriber

Answer: If the anesthesiologist performs the intubation (31500, Intubation, endotracheal, emergency procedure), carriers generally consider it to be a procedure and not anesthesia. That means you don't bill for time units or assign physical-status modifiers. Modifier -23 also would not be appropriate. Note "1" for "medical care" as the type of service on the claim form instead of type "7" for anesthesia, and submit it with the appropriate diagnosis.