Anesthesia Coding Alert
Consider 01922 or 00120 for Auditory Test
Question: Our physician administered general anesthesia while a 16-month-old child underwent auditory stimulation and electrical response tests. How should I report the anesthesiologist's involvement? Answer: Coders have varying opinions on the best way to report auditory brainstem response (ABR).
Nevada Subscriber
Some coders believe the closest option is 01922 (Anesthesia for non-invasive imaging or radiation therapy) but acknowledge that 01922 presumes a high risk for field avoidance that probably did not come into play during the auditory test.
Instead, your better option might be 00120 (Anesthesia for procedures on external, middle and inner ear, including biopsy; not otherwise specified). Many surgeons report 69949 (Unlisted procedure, inner ear) for the procedure, which crosses to anesthesia code 00120.
Anesthesia Coding Alert
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Consider 01922 or 00120 for Auditory Test
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