Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: Our anesthesiologist administered general anesthesia for a case. He also provided peripheral IV line placement and NG/OG tube placement. Can I bill for general anesthesia along with the placement of the peripheral IV line and also bill for the NG/OG tube placement?

What codes would be most appropriate?

Nebraska Subscriber

Answer: According to Correct Coding Initiative edits, both the peripheral IV and NG/OG tube placement are integral to anesthesia and not separately reportable. Some other line placements, however, such as arterial, central, and PICC, are separately reportable because they are considered to be invasive forms of monitoring that are not included in the anesthesia fee. Anytime you submit a claim for any of these reportable line placements, be sure to include clear documentation of why the separate line was needed and, based on payer guidance, you may need to append modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service) or modifier XU (Unusual non-overlapping service).