Anesthesia Coding Alert
Billing an Epidural With Fluoroscopy
Question: Can we report fluoroscopy with 62311 for an epidural injection? Answer: This is a common question because different sources seem to have conflicting guidelines. The bottom line is, yes, you can bill fluoroscopy (76005, Fluoroscopic guidance and localization of needle or catheter tip for spine or paraspinous diagnostic or therapeutic injection procedures [epidural, transforaminal epidural, subarachnoid, paravertebral facet joint, paravertebral facet joint nerve or sacroiliac joint], including neurolytic agent destruction) with the epidural injection (62311, Injection, single [not via indwelling catheter], not including neurolytic substances, with or without contrast [for either localization or epidurography], of diagnostic or therapeutic substance[s] [including anesthetic, antispasmodic, opioid, steroid, other solution], epidural or subarachnoid; lumbar, sacral [caudal]).
Washington Subscriber
Part of the confusion can be attributed to the guidelines in CPT's Spine and Spinal Cord section of the nervous system codes. The explanation lists several groups of codes (including 62311) that include the injection of contrast during fluoroscopic guidance and localization. However, this means that the contrast is bundled, not the fluoro and injection procedures themselves.
Anesthesia Coding Alert
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Calculate Units Correctly for Field Avoidance Pay
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To receive correct [...] - Pain Management Focus:
Remember Modifier -50 for Bilateral Procedures
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Watch Modifier for Return to OR
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Check these 5 areas to help claims through the process
It happens all the time - [...] - Clip-and-Save List:
Close the Door on Post-Op Claims Returns
Check these areas if they keep coming back
If your post-op pain management claims are [...] - Version 11.0 Update:
NCCI Bundles New G Codes Into Injection, Catheter Codes
Watch for these edits
National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits that went into effect Jan. 1, [...] - You Be the Coder:
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Don't Report 0027T for IDET
The December 2004 issue of Pain Management Coding Alert has an error regarding the code [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Billing an Epidural With Fluoroscopy
Question: Can we report fluoroscopy with 62311 for an epidural injection?
Washington Subscriber
Answer: This is [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Count Diskography Levels for Reporting 72295
Question: If a physician performs diskography at C5-6, L1-2, L3-4 and L5-6, how many times [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Charging IV Start for PCA Pump
Question: Can I report the IV start for PCA (patient-controlled anesthesia)? Our physician consulted with [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
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Yes, a CRNA Can Bill 01996
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Code With 64420 or 64421 for Post-Op Paravertebral Block
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