Anesthesia Coding Alert
TEE -- Covered Under Basic Anesthesia?
Question: Is transesophageal echocardiography included in basic anesthesia administration services? Answer: If your payer applies Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits, you will be able to bill for intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) codes, provided the service is diagnostic and not for monitoring. Payers who apply CCI allow providers to bill for the probe placement when they perform and document a diagnostic TEE during anesthesia. What to do: To report the diagnostic service, look to TEE codes 93312-93316. And append modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service) to the TEE code to override edits bundling TEE into anesthesia. CPT says: According to AMA's CPT Assistant (March 2006), you should be able to report your anesthesiologist's placement of intra-arterial lines, central venous lines, and pulmonary artery catheters (all invasive monitoring forms), as well as TEE procedures, separately from basic anesthesia. Some carriers do not follow the CCI edits and will pay separately for monitoring TEE.
Alabama Subscriber
Anesthesia Coding Alert
- Tackle the Tough Hip Procedures That Raise Tough Coding Questions
Are you ready to code anesthesia for open pelvic ring repair? It may not crop [...] - Tackle the Tough Hip Procedures That Raise Tough Coding Questions
Are you ready to code anesthesia for open pelvic ring repair?It may not crop up [...] - Reader Questions:
Determine Proper Payer for Organ Harvest
Question: Our practice is in a fairly small city, and for the first time, I [...] - Pain Management Corner:
Avoid OIG's Glare: Code Facet Joint Injections Correctly
Most coders err with 64470, 64475 -- here's how to avoid becoming a statistic. The Office [...] - E/M Coding:
Make the Most of Time With These Tips
Counseling and coordination of care count toward E/M time if done properly.Believe it or not, [...] - News in Brief:
Begin Prepping for More Specific ICD-10 Today
Coming soon: Changes to pain codes -- and everything else. If you think keeping up [...] - Reader Questions:
Reconsider Adding Acupuncture
Question: Our facility is considering offering acupuncture services. Do carriers routinely reimburse for the service? [...] - Reader Question:
How to Code for Cancelled Surgery
Question: Our anesthesiologist provided the following information: Cataract Surgery on RT eye cancelled; Start Time: [...] - Reader Question:
TEE -- Covered Under Basic Anesthesia?
Question: Is transesophageal echocardiography included in basic anesthesia administration services?
Alabama SubscriberAnswer: If your payer applies [...] - Reader Question:
If There's no Patient, Don't Expect Payment
Question: Should we bill an office visit (99211-99215) for a consult with a family member [...]
