Anesthesia Coding Alert
Vertobroplasty
Montana Subscriber
Answer: Because the corresponding code recommended by ASA (00640, anesthesia for closed procedures on cervical, lumbar or thoracic spine) is not in CPT, the most appropriate crosswalk code is 00620 (anesthesia for procedures on thoracic spine and cord; not otherwise specified) because the definition of 22520 limits the procedure to the thoracic spine. However, many carriers consider 00620 an open procedure and will not accept it for percutaneous procedure. Then, you would use 01999 (unlisted anesthesia procedure[s]). Because this decision is carrier-specific, make sure to check before you bill.
Anesthesia Coding Alert
- Level II Modifiers Describe Service Levels and Provider Roles
HCPCS 2001 states that modifiers should, or in some cases must, be used to identify [...] - Seven Rules of Medical Direction
Before a case can be considered medically directed, CMS mandates that the anesthesiologist meet several [...] - You Be the Coder:
Modifier -59
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Mutually Exclusive Codes Affected by Edits
The Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits 7.2 released in July 2001 included many changes to [...] - Reader Question:
Exam Before Fluoroscopy
Question: One of our pain management physicians performed an exam of a patients extremely painful [...] - Reader Question:
Conscious Sedation
Question: I know we can charge for conscious sedation (99141) in addition to gastrointestinal procedures. [...] - Reader Question:
IV Access
Question: What supporting diagnosis should be used for IV access by an anesthesiologist?
Maryland Subscriber
Answer: [...] - Reader Question:
Endoscopic Resection
Question: How should I code for anesthesia during a procedure that was diagnosed as left [...] - Reader Question:
Catheter Placement
Question: Can I bill separately for a catheter placed by the medically directing anesthesiologist for [...] - Reader Question:
Jejunostomy Tube Removal
Question: Is there a way to code for the removal of a jejunostomy tube that [...] - Reader Question:
Transected Axillary Artery
Question: What is the correct anesthesia code for the repair of a transected axillary artery [...] - Reader Question:
Different Anesthesiologists During Delivery
Question: How should we code if one anesthesiologist begins a labor epidural and another one [...] - Reader Question:
Myoblock
Question: Which code should be used to report Myoblock (botulinum toxin type B) for chemodenervation? [...] - Reader Question:
Vertobroplasty
Question: The crosswalk code for 22520 (percutaneous vertebroplasty, one vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral injection; [...] - Reader Question:
Numbing Before Anesthesia
Question: Our anesthesiologist uses xylocaine to numb the area before administering the drug for trigger-point [...] - Reader Question:
Highest Specificity, or Match Exactly?
Question: Should a patient's diagnosis be coded to the highest level of specificity, or to [...]
