Anesthesia Coding Alert
Go With Higher Base, Not Multiple Codes
Question: Should I include any modifiers when submitting claims for a double procedure, such as an upper and lower endoscopy performed during the same session? Wisconsin Subscriber Answer: When your physician provides anesthesia instead of performing the procedure, you should only report one code for his service (with the exception of a few services such as Swan-Ganz line placement, 93503, Insertion and placement of flow directed catheter [e.g., Swan-Ganz] for monitoring purposes). Choose the procedure with the highest-base anesthesia value, and then submit that code with the total amount of time your physician spent on all procedures during that session. The two anesthesia codes that apply to your case are 00740 (Anesthesia for upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures, endoscope introduced proximal to duodenum) and 00810 (Anesthesia for lower intestinal endoscopic procedures, endoscope introduced distal to duodenum). Each of these codes has five base units, so you can report either choice and be within correct guidelines.
Anesthesia Coding Alert
- Documentation Checkpoint:
Stop Diagnosis Denials at the Door With Our Easy Checklist
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Defeat Denials by Conquering Top-10 Issues
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Knowing What IPM Specialists Do Is Half Your Coding Battle
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Verify Best Option for Piriformis Injection
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Concurrencies Count, Despite Different Payers
Question: Our anesthesiologist participated in two cases whose times overlapped. One claim is Medicare, and [...] - Reader Questions:
Medical Direction Status Stays for Entire Case
Question: Anesthesiologist A medically directed a CRNA during the first portion of a case. Anesthesiologist [...] - Reader Questions:
3 EEG Codes Include Anesthesia
Question: Some of our anesthesia providers will bill an EEG (CPT 95955) when performed, [...] - Reader Questions:
Go With Higher Base, Not Multiple Codes
Question: Should I include any modifiers when submitting claims for a double procedure, such as [...] - Reader Questions:
V58.69 Could Work for Chronic Narcotic Use
Question: What diagnosis should I use for chronic narcotic use? Louisiana Subscriber Answer: Some coders [...] - Reader Questions:
Confirm Nerve, Location for Occipital Destruction
Question: How should I code occipital nerve destruction? Indiana Subscriber Answer: Coders and payers sometimes [...] - Reader Questions:
Follow Payer Guides for Pump Payment
Question: How should we code spinal pump insertion for pain management? Our physician helped with [...]
