Anesthesia Coding Alert
Rib Surgery Code 21810 Crosses to 00472
Question: I’m coding for anesthesia during rib plating surgery. The surgeon completed four procedures: plating of ribs 6 and 7, right side; placement of on-Q pump with two catheters; placement of two chest tubes; and placement of a JP drain. Would 00520 be the correct anesthesia code?
Answer: The procedure you describe fits code 21810 (Treatment of rib fracture requiring external fixation [flail chest]). This crosses to anesthesia code 00472 (Anesthesia for partial rib resection; thoracoplasty [any type]), which carries a base unit value of 10. It is the only anesthesia cross code for 21810 and is more accurate than 00520 (Anesthesia for closed chest procedures; [including bronchoscopy] not otherwise specified).
New Hampshire Subscriber
Anesthesia Coding Alert
- Post-Op Services:
Know When You're Justified in Reporting Post-Op Brachial Plexus Blocks
These 3 tips will keep your claims on track every time. When you see documentation [...] - ICD-10:
Watch for Straight Crossover for Intracranial and Intraspinal Abscesses
Diagnosis code choice will remain simple in 2014. When your anesthesia provider is involved in [...] - Practice Management:
Hiring a Coder? Follow These 8 Steps to a Successful Search
Our guide will help you find the best candidate for your practice. Hiring a coder [...] - You Be the Coder:
Tracing 'Invalid Modifier' Denial With 01996
Question: Several of our payers (private and Medicare) are denying claims with 01996 due to [...] - Reader Question:
Rib Surgery Code 21810 Crosses to 00472
Question: I’m coding for anesthesia during rib plating surgery. The surgeon completed four procedures: plating [...] - Reader Question:
Hernia Repair for 9-Month-Old Leads to 00834
Question: Our anesthesiologist provided services for a 9-month old normal child who underwent hernia repair [...] - Reader Question:
Be Aware of Column 2 Edits for 64450 With 77002
Question: I have looked, but cannot find information regarding whether you can bill 64450 with [...] - Reader Question:
Understand Full Meaning of Modifier 53 to Choose Appropriately
Question: Our pain management specialist was in the midst of administering a trigeminal nerve block [...] - Reader Question:
Know Interlaminar Block Target Before Selecting Your Fluoro Code
Question: Do payers allow you to report fluoroscopy in conjunction with an interlaminar epidural block? [...]
