Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: How long does our physician’s intraservice time need to be before we can bill 99152? The code says it is for the “initial 15 minutes.” Does that mean we can submit 99152 for any number of minutes up to 15 minutes or is there a certain number that must be reached?

Texas Subscriber

Answer: Your provider must complete (and have documentation of) a minimum of 10 minutes of intraservice time as defined in the CPT^® manual before you can submit 99152 (Moderate sedation services provided by the same physician or other qualified health care professional performing the diagnostic or therapeutic service that the sedation supports, requiring the presence of an independent trained observer to assist in the monitoring of the patient’s level of consciousness and physiological status; initial 15 minutes of intraservice time, patient age 5 years or older).

According to current CPT^® guidelines, intraservice time is used to determine the appropriate CPT^® code to report moderate sedation services. Intraservice time:

• Begins with the administration of the sedating agent(s)
• Ends when the procedure is completed, the patient is stable for recovery status, and the physician or other qualified healthcare professional providing the sedation ends personal continuous face-to-face time with the patient
• Includes ordering and/or administering the initial and subsequent doses of sedating agents
• Requires continuous face-to-face attendance of the physician or other qualified healthcare professional