Anesthesia Coding Alert

Reader Question:

O-A and A-O Joints Are Same as Paravertebral Levels

Question:  Our physician administered four injections for a patient:

  • RT C2-C3, RT C3-C4 , RT atlanto-occipital joint and RT atlanto-axial joint injections

Coding the AO and AA joints always confuses me because of the location. Can you please help?

North Dakota Subscriber


Answer: 
First, look at which joints were involved with each injection:

  • Occipito-atlantal joint/Atlanto-occipital joint (articulation between the atlas and the occipital bone) is the C0-C1  
  • Atlanto-axial joint is the C1-C2
  • C2-C3
  • C3-C4.

You’re dealing with four paravertebral facet joint levels for injections. Report the encounter as:

  • 64490 (Injection[s], diagnostic or therapeutic agent, paravertebral facet [zygapophyseal] joint [or nerves innervating that joint] with image guidance [fluoroscopy or CT], cervical or thoracic; single level) for C0-C1
  • + 64491 (…second level [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) for C1-C2
  • +64492 (…third and any additional level[s] [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) for the C2-C3 and C3-C4 injections. Remember, since +64492 specifies “third and each additional” level, you should only bill with one unit of service for both the C2-C3 and C3-C4 injections. 

 

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