Anesthesia Coding Alert

 Question: How should I code for IV sedation during transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)? A cardiologist performed the procedure.
Massachusetts Subscriber
 
 Answer: Your base code for anesthesia during the TEE is 01922 (Anesthesia for non-invasive imaging or radiation therapy). If the physician used MAC (monitored anesthesia care), and the carrier accepts HCPCS codes, append modifier -QS (Monitored anesthesia care service). If the carrier does not accept HCPCS modifiers, append modifier -52 (Reduced services) instead and reduce the procedure's base units to 3 or 4 (01922 is a 7-unit code).

 - You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were answered by Mary Klein, CPC, with Panhandle Anesthesia in Pensacola, Fla.