Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: How should I code an injection of xiphoid cartilage with a steroid and local anesthetic?

North Carolina Subscriber

Answer: Although you may be tempted to code this as a trigger point injection (20552, Injection[s]; single or multiple trigger point[s], one or two muscle[s]), it is closer to being a joint injection (20610*, Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection; major joint or bursa [e.g., shoulder, hip, knee joint, subacromial bursa]). Some physicians might want to classify it as an intercostal nerve block (64420*, Injection, anesthetic agent; intercostal nerve, single), but a steroid injection really doesn't fall into this category.