Anesthesia Coding Alert
Report RF and Facet Injections Separately
Question: How should I code radiofrequency facet injections for commercial carriers? Should I report an unlisted-procedure code and attach the procedure's reports? - You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were answered by Barbara Johnson, CPC, MPC, anesthesia coder with Loma Linda University Anesthesiology Medical Group in Loma Linda, Calif.
Louisiana Subscriber
Answer: Report the appropriate code from 64622-64627 (various locations and levels for Destruction by neurolytic agent, paravertebral facet joint nerve). Code for each level individually, but don't append any modifiers because the codes for additional levels are add-on codes (+64623, ... lumbar or sacral, each additional level [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure] and +64627, ... cervical or thoracic, each additional level [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure]). (Remember, you can't append modifiers to add-on codes, but you're reimbursed 100 percent for any add-ons.)
If the anesthesiologist also performed radiofrequency, select the correct injection code from 64470-64476 (various locations and levels for Injection, anesthetic agent and/or steroid, paravertebral facet joint or facet joint nerve).
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