Anesthesia Coding Alert
General Code May Be Only Option for Central Pain Syndrome Diagnosis
Question: What diagnosis applies to central pain syndrome? Answers to You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were provided by Margaret Lamb, RHIT, CPC, a coding consultant for Care Communications in Chicago.
Arkansas Subscriber
Answer: Ideally, you want to identify the diagnosis that is causing the patient's pain (such as 724.02, Spinal stenosis, other than cervical; lumbar region). If you don't have a site of pain or a disease process to base your claim on, your best diagnosis is 780.99 (Other general symptoms).
Central pain syndrome is a neurological condition caused by damage to or dysfunction of the central nervous system. The syndrome has many causes, including stroke, multiple sclerosis, tumors, epilepsy, brain or spinal cord trauma, or Parkinson's disease.
The extent of the patient's pain is usually related to the cause of injury or damage, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Pain medications often help reduce the patient's pain but do not completely relieve it.
Anesthesia Coding Alert
- NCCI Update:
Get Ready--Version 12.1 Edits Take Aim at CVC, Moderate Sedation
Good news: There are exceptions that NCCI doesn't touch
If you routinely code for central venous [...] - Back to Basics:
Check Your Modifier 59 Use to Avoid Audit Hot Buttons
Focus on 2 areas to ensure correct reporting
If your anesthesiologist performs [...] - You Be the Coder:
Deciding Between 00560, 00563 for Hypothermia
Question: Our physician provided anesthesia during a patient’s mitral valve repair. What code should I [...] - Pain Management Corner:
Use These 2 Starting-Point Strategies for Facet Injections
Verify the diagnosis and know the code range to head in the right direction
If your [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Multiple Procedures Mean Multiple Codes
Question: Our anesthesiologist administered general anesthesia during a bronchoscopy and mediastinoscopy to remove the patient's [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Special Circumstances Merit Better Choice Than 01967
Question: Most of our physicians report 01967 for vaginal deliveries. What is the difference between [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Stick With 1 Code for Temporary Tracheostomy
Question: Our physician administered anesthesia during a temporary tracheostomy. He also performed a fiberoptic bronchoscopy [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Unusual Positions Mean Extra Units--Sometimes
Question: The surgeon placed the patient in the left lateral position for surgery on the [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
General Code May Be Only Option for Central Pain Syndrome Diagnosis
Question: What diagnosis applies to central pain syndrome?
Arkansas Subscriber
Answer: Ideally, you want to identify [...]
