Anesthesia Coding Alert
Don’t Report 01967 for Non-Obstetric Epidurals
Question: Some surgeons have started requesting that our providers use epidural anesthesia in lieu of general anesthesia for qualified hip and knee replacement candidates. I have confirmed with the anesthesia providers this is not a nerve block for pain in addition the general, as that was my first thought. I know I can’t use the 01967 epidural code as it is specific to obstetrics. What is the appropriate code to use for this anesthesia? Idaho Subscriber Answer: In the event the epidural is the primary anesthetic, the coding process doesn’t change. You are correct in saying that 01967 (Neuraxial labor analgesia/anesthesia for planned vaginal delivery…) would not be the appropriate code in the scenario you’re describing since it is designed for labor and delivery. In cases of hip and/or knee replacement, determine the correct surgical code for the procedure and crosswalk it to the appropriate anesthesia code: Remember: Anesthesia providers do not bill by the “type” of anesthesia. Instead, they bill based on the anatomic area where the procedure is performed.
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