Anesthesia Coding Alert
Deciding Between 00560, 00563 for Hypothermia
Question: Our physician provided anesthesia during a patient’s mitral valve repair. What code should I report, considering he also checked “hypothermia” on the chart?
Massachusetts Subscriber
Answer: CPT includes several codes for anesthesia during heart procedures, but only one mentions hypothermia (00563, Anesthesia for procedures on heart, pericardial sac, and great vessels of chest; with pump oxygenator with hypothermic circulatory arrest).
Physicians use the pump oxygenator for many mitral valve cases. Because of this--and because inducing hypothermia without the bypass pump is highly unlikely (the bypass machine can induce and reverse hypothermia)--00563 is probably your correct code instead of 00560 (… without pump oxygenator).
Be sure to verify whether the anesthesiologist used the pump oxygenator before submitting your claim.
If you learn that 00560 is the more appropriate code, do not report the hypothermia separately. CPT considers hypothermia to be part of the procedure, even if the descriptor does not mention it.
Anesthesia Coding Alert
- NCCI Update:
Get Ready--Version 12.1 Edits Take Aim at CVC, Moderate Sedation
Good news: There are exceptions that NCCI doesn't touch
If you routinely code for central venous [...] - Back to Basics:
Check Your Modifier 59 Use to Avoid Audit Hot Buttons
Focus on 2 areas to ensure correct reporting
If your anesthesiologist performs [...] - You Be the Coder:
Deciding Between 00560, 00563 for Hypothermia
Question: Our physician provided anesthesia during a patient’s mitral valve repair. What code should I [...] - Pain Management Corner:
Use These 2 Starting-Point Strategies for Facet Injections
Verify the diagnosis and know the code range to head in the right direction
If your [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Multiple Procedures Mean Multiple Codes
Question: Our anesthesiologist administered general anesthesia during a bronchoscopy and mediastinoscopy to remove the patient's [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Special Circumstances Merit Better Choice Than 01967
Question: Most of our physicians report 01967 for vaginal deliveries. What is the difference between [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Stick With 1 Code for Temporary Tracheostomy
Question: Our physician administered anesthesia during a temporary tracheostomy. He also performed a fiberoptic bronchoscopy [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Unusual Positions Mean Extra Units--Sometimes
Question: The surgeon placed the patient in the left lateral position for surgery on the [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
General Code May Be Only Option for Central Pain Syndrome Diagnosis
Question: What diagnosis applies to central pain syndrome?
Arkansas Subscriber
Answer: Ideally, you want to identify [...]
