Anesthesia Coding Alert

These G codes replace therapeutic or diagnostic infusion codes 90780-90784. Previous versions of NCCI edits bundled 90780-90784 into anesthesia codes, so doing the same with the new G codes doesn't surprise many experts.

NCCI assigns a status indicator of "1" to the bundles with codes G0345 and G0347. This means you can report both services of the pair with modifier -59 (Distinct procedural service) to differentiate the procedures and receive payment for both.

However, NCCI assigns a status indicator of "0" to the edits that bundle G0351 and G0353 with the anesthesia codes. Because of this status indicator, you cannot use a modifier to report the services separately, says Trish Bukauskas-Vollmer, CPC, owner of TB Consulting in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Pay Attention to Injection Coding, Too

NCCI 11.0 bundles three of these G codes (G0345, G0347 and G0353) into epidural and catheter codes and most nerve block and joint injection procedures. Comprehensive codes in these edits include those such as:
 

The good news is that each of these edits has a "1" status indicator, so you can append modifier -59 to be paid for both services with the proper documentation. And because the final fee schedule for 2005 designates the new G codes as payable with other services, no NCCI edits bundle them with E/M services.

Other Edits Target Electromyography

 NCCI 11.0 includes other edits related to nerve block, nerve destruction and nerve injection codes. Changes you should know about include:
 

 As with some of the edits involving G0351 and G0353 discussed above, appending modifier -59 to these edits will not override the bundle.