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Anesthesia Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

Code Higher Base for Multi-CABG Procedure

Published on Tue Feb 08, 2005

Question: A patient underwent a two-vessel CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) procedure off-pump. Then she was put on the pump for a three-vessel CABG. How should I report the anesthesia?

Indiana Subscriber Answer: When the anesthesiologist participates in multiple procedures, you may report the highest base appropriate procedure. In this case, the off-pump code is the higher-base procedure (25 units). Because the physician performed part of the procedure off-pump, you should report 00566 (Anesthesia for direct coronary artery bypass grafting without pump oxygenator), provided you have documentation for it.  - You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were answered by Cheryl Pascale, CCS, a coder with Hackensack Anesthesiology in Hackensack, N.J.
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