Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: Our physician performed a peripheral nerve block (lateral femoral cutaneous block) on an obese patient and used his own nerve-stimulator equipment with insulated needle because the facility did not have the equipment. Can he bill for the equipment that he personally owns?

 
New York Subscriber
 
Answer: Using his own equipment in a facility does not permit him to bill for more than the nerve block (64450*, injection, anesthetic agent; other peripheral nerve or branch). 

However, some carriers will reimburse for supplies and materials the physician provides that are above those included in 99070 (supplies and materials [except spectacles], provided by the physician over and above those usually included with the office visit or other services rendered [list drugs, trays, supplies, or materials provided]). Most carriers cap the payment of this code, and the true cost of the item often is not recovered, but it's worth checking with the carrier.

 

-- Answers to "Reader Questions" and "You Be the Coder" provided by Elaine May of the physician group Anesthesia Consultants of Oxford in Oxford, Miss.