Anesthesia Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Report 64450 for Pain Relief Bier Block

Question: How should I code a Bier block for lidocaine infusion for pain relief (rather than anesthesia)? I've tried several codes but am unsure about the best one to report.

Nebraska Subscriber
 
Answer: Some coders report 90780 (Intravenous infusion for therapy/diagnosis, administered by physician or under direct supervision of physician; up to one hour) and +90781 (... each additional hour, up to eight [8] hours [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) for these injections.

Your better option, however, is 64450 (Injection, anesthetic agent; other peripheral nerve or branch) because it better represents the procedure. But because 64450 is for an injection and your physician performed an infusion, also append modifier -22 (Unusual procedural services) and send notes explaining the procedure. Your final option is 64999 (Unlisted procedure, nervous system).

Other Articles in this issue of

Anesthesia Coding Alert

View All

Which Codify by AAPC tool is right for you?

Call 844-334-2816 to speak with a Codify by AAPC specialist now.