Anesthesia Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Submit 01999 for NG Tube Anesthesia

Published on Tue Jan 04, 2011

Question: The anesthesiologist performed MAC (monitored anesthesia care) during nasogastric tube placement because the patient was schizophrenic and combative. What anesthesia code best describes the service?

Answer: CPT does not include an anesthesia crosswalk code for 43752 (Naso- or oro-gastric tube placement, requiring physician's skill and fluoroscopic guidance [includes fluoroscopy, image documentation and report]) because most patients do not need anesthesia during the procedure. When you do need to report anesthesia during a tube placement, submit 01999 (Unlisted anesthesia procedure[s]) with documentation supporting medical necessity.

Diagnosis: Include applicable diagnosis codes to support needing anesthesia during the procedure. Choose from 294.11 (Dementia in conditions classified elsewhere with behavioral disturbance), 295.xx (Schizophrenic disorders), or 312. xx (Disturbance of conduct, not elsewhere classified) as appropriate.

Anesthesia Coding Alert

CPT 2011:
Don't Miss New Joint Injection Guidelines That Kick In January 1
Revised directions change ultrasound, T12-L1 reporting.Remember to check for updated or revised guidelines when preparing [...]

CCI 17.0:
Anesthesia Overrides Bronchoscopy in Newest Edits
Report anesthesia service instead of new cath or tube placement codes.The newest edition of Correct [...]

2011 Preparation:
Check These 4 Areas for Small -- But Important -- Claim Changes
Diagnosis, PQRI, and E-prescribing top experts' lists of watchpoints. Approximately 600 coders, physicians, and office [...]

ICD-10:
Start Tracking Your Most Common Diagnoses for ICD-10 Changes
550.90 will become K40.90. ICD-10 implementation in 2013 is coming fast, so take steps now [...]

You Be the Coder:
Correctly Count Each Nerve for 64622
Question: Can you explain how to bill 64622? Do we report the code per level [...]

Reader Questions:
20552, 20553: Base TPI Code on Muscles
Question: My understanding is that the paraspinal muscle is a group of individual muscles that [...]

Reader Questions:
Crosswalk to 00126 for Tympanostomy
Question: The anesthesiologist provided service during a tympanostomy of the left ear on an 11-month-old [...]

Reader Questions:
Report 01922 Plus Documentation for MRI
Question: Our anesthesiologists are beginning to work with patients having MRIs in a radiology office [...]

Reader Questions:
Submit 01999 for NG Tube Anesthesia
Question: The anesthesiologist performed MAC (monitored anesthesia care) during nasogastric tube placement because the patient [...]

Reader Questions:
Multiple Physicians, But Single 01967
Question: Physician A administered an OB epidural; Physician B checked on the patient 15 minutes [...]

Reader Questions:
Postop Catheter Coding Allowed When Separate
Question: Our provider used monitored anesthesia care (MAC) for the primary mode of anesthesia during [...]

Reader Questions:
Submit 00670 for Harrington Rod Surgery
Question: What would be the best anesthesia code for spinal surgery including laminectomy and insertion [...]

Reader Questions:
Avoid a 'Finders Keepers' Overpayment Mentality
Question: We've discovered that a patient overpaid us on her copay. We collected $50, which [...]

Reader Questions:
Look to 64640, J7335 for Capsaicin Patch
Question: Does Medicare cover the capsaicin patch? If so, how should we code it?Answer: 2011 [...]

View All