Anesthesia Coding Alert
Procedure Includes Bupivicaine Anesthetic
Question: Massachusetts Subscriber Answer: The provider uses bupivicaine as a local anesthetic to decrease the patient's discomfort associated with the steroid injection. Most payers and even the CPT® surgical package definition notes that "Local infiltration, metacarpal/metatarsal/digital block or topical anesthesia" is considered to be included in the procedure code, so you won't report it separately. Submit J1094 (Injection, dexamethasone acetate, 1 mg) or J1100 (Injection, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, 1mg) for the dexamethasone. The steroid medication comes in many different strengths, so confirm the product and the total volume your physician injected in order to calculate the number of units of the HCPCS code to bill.
Anesthesia Coding Alert
- Modifiers:
Take These 3 Steps to Keep Discontinued Procedure Claims Moving
Documentation and timing of cancellation make or break modifier 53.When your anesthesiologist or the surgeon [...] - Definitions:
3 Scenarios Show When to Rely on Modifier 53
Patient safety is the deciding factor for "Discontinued procedure."The anesthesiologist or surgeon -- or even the [...] - Medical Direction:
Test Your Concurrency Know-How With 3 Common Scenarios
Let payers reduce your case units instead of handling it yourself.A prime factor in determining [...] - ICD-10:
G89 Family Will Bring Chronic, Acute Pain Options
Hint: One-to-one cross from ICD-9 eases transition. When ICD-10 goes into effect in October 2013, [...] - Accounts Receivable:
Improve Your Collections by Boosting Your A/R Process With These 3 Tips
Be diligent with denial follow-ups, or risk leaving money on the table.Economic uncertainty and looming [...] - You Be the Coder:
Coding for Patient Refusal
Question: After placement of an intra-arterial catheter (A-line) in the operating room (OR), a patient [...] - Reader Question:
Failed Labor Means 01967, 660.63
Question: Our anesthesia provider was called in to administer an epidural for a labor and [...] - Reader Question:
Location Guides Myelomeningocele Repair Choice
Question: Our anesthesiologist provided care during a myelomeningocele repair. I have no information telling what [...] - Reader Question:
Steer Clear of Modifier PT for Anesthesia
Question: Can you tell me about the new modifier PT? Can we use it when [...] - Reader Question:
Procedure Includes Bupivicaine Anesthetic
Question: How should we code for bilateral greater occipital nerve blocks with 1.5 cc of [...] - Reader Question:
Bulbar Block, Anesthesia Not Same
Question: We have a new anesthesiology client who works in an eye center. He says [...] - Reader Question:
Post-op Epidural Block Merits 62319
Question: Our anesthesiologist inserted a lumbar epidural catheter to manage post-op pain following a total [...] - Reader Question:
Report Extra L/D Time With Units, Not Minutes
Question: When billing for code 01967, sometimes the time is over 999 minutes. In one [...]
