Anesthesia Coding Alert
Choose 00400 for Anesthesia During Pediatric Blood Draw
Question: Our provider spent 20 minutes administering general anesthesia during a blood draw on a 4-year-old patient. What anesthesia code should we report? Wisconsin Subscriber Answer: Although anesthesia is not typically required for a simple blood draw, a pediatric patient sometimes does need anesthesia service. This falls under 00400 (Anesthesia for procedures on the integumentary system on the extremities, anterior trunk and perineum; not otherwise specified) provided the blood was taken from one of the child’s extremities. The code carries a value of three base units. Modify it: Presuming the involved payer recognizes modifiers, append modifier 23 (Unusual anesthesia) along with documentation supporting the use of anesthesia. Modifier 23 should be listed on the claim following any other applicable payment modifiers.
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