Anesthesia Coding Alert
'Unlisted' Is Your Option for Anesthesia During Nasogastric Tube Placement
Question: I bill for a children’s hospital and a small child was brought to the OR and anesthetized to place a nasogastric tube. What is the most appropriate anesthesia code for CPT® code 43752? South Dakota Subscriber Answer: Unfortunately, code 43752 (Naso- or oro-gastric tube placement, requiring physician’s skill and fluoroscopic guidance (includes fluoroscopy, image documentation and report)) does not cross to an anesthesia code since anesthesia typically is not required (according to the 2019 ASA Crosswalk). Also, the anatomical anesthesia codes do not quite describe this procedure. Your only option is to report 01999 (Unlisted anesthesia procedure(s)) and documentation with a recommended base value and a similar code (such as 00731 which is through the esophagus and into the stomach). Based on the patients age, there is already support of medical necessity for anesthesia.
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