Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: Our provider used monitored anesthesia care (MAC) for the primary mode of anesthesia during a procedure. He also inserted a femoral nerve continuous catheter and documented that the catheter was for postoperative pain relief. Can we bill separately for the continuous catheter?

Answer: Yes, you can report the continuous catheter under one stipulation. Your provider must adequately document that the continuous catheter would be used for postoperative management and was not used for the mode of anesthesia during the procedure.

Report the catheter placement with 62319 (Injection, including catheter placement, continuous infusion or intermittent bolus, not including neurolytic substances, with or without contrast [for either localization or epidurography], of diagnostic or therapeutic substance[s] [including anesthetic, antispasmodic, opioid, steroid, other solution], epidural or subarachnoid; lumbar, sacral [caudal]). Append modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service) to emphasize the catheter's separate use.

Follow up: If you're able to code for the catheter placement, you can also report additional days if your physician provides epidural care during the postoperative period. Submit 01996 (Daily hospital management of epidural or subarachnoid continuous drug administration) for each day of in-hospital service.