Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: My understanding is that as long as the anesthesiologist does everything else involved with a MAC case, he doesn't have to give sedatives if they're not warranted. Is there anything in writing that specifically states that sedatives are not absolutely necessary in order to bill for monitored anesthesia care?

Indiana Subscriber

Answer: Yes, the American Society of Anesthesiologists does support your point of view. The ASA website and each year's Relative Value Guide includes supplemental information that helps your coding. One such article/position statement is "Distinguishing Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) from Moderate Sedation/Analgesia (Conscious Sedation)." One statement in the paper reads, "The administration of sedatives, hypnotics, analgesic, as well as anesthetic drugs commonly used for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia if often, but not always, a part of Monitored Anesthesia Care." The clarification of "often, but not always" verifies that sedatives are not always required for a case to be considered MAC.