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Anesthesia Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Report 00120 for Acoustic Exam

Published on Thu Mar 11, 2004

Question: What are the surgical and anesthesia codes for an acoustic exam under anesthesia?

South Carolina Subscriber Answer: You should report 92585 (Auditory evoked potentials for evoked response audiometry and/or testing of the central nervous system; comprehensive) for the acoustic exam, and 00120 (Anesthesia for procedures on external, middle, and inner ear including biopsy; not otherwise specified) for the anesthesia. 

Patients do not normally require anesthesia during this procedure, so include thorough documentation to support medical necessity. You may also append modifier -23 (Unusual anesthesia) with notes explaining the case.
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