Anesthesia Coding Alert
What Is a Luschka Block?
Question: What is a Luschka block, and how should I code for it? Missouri Subscriber Answer: Physicians sometimes treat spinal pain with a Luschka block, but it is often a last resort for treatment because it involves permanent destruction of the nerve. This is the same as what many pain physicians call a median branch facet nerve block.
You should code it with 64470 (Injection, anesthetic agent and/or steroid, paravertebral facet joint or facet joint nerve; cervical or thoracic, single level) and +64472 ( cervical or thoracic, each additional level [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) for cervical/thoracic blocks. Use 64475 ( lumbar or sacral, single level) with +64476 ( lumbar or sacral, each additional level [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) for lumbar/sacral blocks.
Anesthesia Coding Alert
- Eliminate Crosswalk Confusion for AAA Endovascular Repairs
CPT codes for endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) were a welcome [...] - Update Your Base Units
The CMS has identified various inconsistencies in the 2003 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database that [...] - Know Your Options for Dental Reimbursement
Although many medical plans used to include coverage for dental services, that's rarely the case [...] - You Be the Coder:
Coding for Anesthesiologists Performing H&Ps
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Clarify Reimbursement with Dental Patients
Patient communication is always important,but it is especially necessary prior to elective procedures like dental [...] - Reader Questions:
Surgeon Can Help Justify Need for Anesthesia
Question: What should we do to get paid for codes 61624 and 36491? This payer [...] - Reader Questions:
Do You Bill for Epidural PCA?
Question: I know that Medicare will not cover services associated with epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCAs), [...] - Reader Questions:
Choose the Best Code for Xiphoid Cartilage Injection
Question: How should I code an injection of xiphoid cartilage with a steroid and local [...] - Reader Questions:
Epidurals Use Helps Determine Correct Post-Op Coding
Question: A pain-services anesthesiologist placed an epidural to use during a hysterectomy and for post-op [...] - Reader Questions:
Tracheoplasty Coding Help
Question: How should I code a tracheoplasty with vocal-cord medialization? The surgeon made the incision [...] - Reader Questions:
You Can Code Leg Ligation Several Different Ways
Question: Which anesthesia code is best for a case that says the surgeon ligated from [...] - Reader Questions:
Code 01844 Applies to Cimino Fistula Procedure
Question: What is a Cimino fistula, and how should I code for it? Nevada Subscriber [...] - Reader Questions:
Carrier Helps Set Chemodenervation and Botox Coding
Question: What are the current chemodenervation codes for Botox injections? New Jersey Subscriber Answer: The [...] - Work Your Way Through the Maze of RSD Coding
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is a chronic pain disorder of the sympathetic nervous system. Diagnosis [...] - You Be the Coder:
Understand Codes for Piriformis Injection
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - New 2003 Fees Impact Pain Management Practices
Trigger point, facet joint and epidural injections are the "meat and potatoes" of pain management [...] - Count the Muscles for New TPI Coding
New descriptors for trigger point injections (TPIs) have changed pain management coding in 2003. "Last [...] - Watch Code Changes to Report Racz Catheter Correctly
Controversy has surrounded Racz catheter coding for years because of different opinions regarding one-day versus [...] - Reader Questions:
Use Ganglion Code for Dorsal Root Injection
Question: How should I code for a dorsal root ganglion injection? The doctor says that [...] - Reader Questions:
Costochondral Injection = Intercostal
Question: How should I code for a costochondral injection?Wisconsin SubscriberAnswer: Costochondral" means "relating to the [...] - Reader Questions:
Report Lumbar Epidural with Surgical Code
Question: How should I code for lumbar pain epidurals administered by an unsupervised certified registered [...] - Reader Questions:
What Is a Luschka Block?
Question: What is a Luschka block, and how should I code for it? Missouri Subscriber [...] - Reader Questions:
Dont Split Times for Crossover Days
Question: How should I code for anesthesia during a procedure that spans two days of [...] - Reader Questions:
Bill Facet Joint Injections Correctly
Question: Our physician billed +64476 (Injection, anesthetic agent and/or steroid, paravertebral facet joint or facet [...]
