Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: My physician provides anesthesia for a surgical procedure, and the surgeon asks my physician to consult the same patient for postoperative epidural infusion for pain management for post-op pain. Is this consult billable? Do I add modifier 25? What kind of documentation is needed to bill the pain consult? New Jersey Subscriber Answer: Did you bill for the placement of an epidural for this patient? If yes, then do not bill for a consult. If not, then you may bill a consultation service only if there is clear documentation of the surgeon's request for your physician's opinion and a written report of the opinion in the shared chart. If this is the case, then bill the appropriate inpatient consultation code (99251-99255) along with modifier 25 (Significant, separately  identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician on the same day of the procedure or other service). A pain consult should [...]