Anesthesia Coding Alert
Know How to Report Perioperative Temperature Management
Question: While using active warming, two of the patient’s body temperature measurements were equal to or greater than 96.8 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperatures were taken within the designated timeframe for a general anesthesia case that lasted 47 minutes. Should I report G9363 only?
Utah Subscriber
Answer: Yes, you can use denominator code as G9363 (Duration of monitored anesthesia care [MAC] or peripheral nerve block [PNB] without the use of general anesthesia during an applicable procedure or general or neuraxial anesthesia less than 60 minutes, as documented in the anesthesia record). But you cannot use any numerator code or combination from PQRS Measure #193 in this case.
Refresher: The denominator code applies for all patients, regardless of age, undergoing surgical or therapeutic procedures under general or neuraxial anesthesia of 60 minutes duration or longer, except patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass.
The numerator code is for patients who meet one of two criteria:
The anesthesia time used for this measure should be the time recorded in the anesthesia record.
Note: If patient does not meet denominator inclusion because anesthesia time as indicated on the anesthesia record is less than 60 minutes duration, you must include G9363 on the claim form to submit the numerator option.
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