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Anesthesia Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Sedation During PICU Procedures

Published on Wed May 02, 2007

Question: Some of our physicians in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) perform sedation for procedures such as lumbar punctures. Can we code for this service? If so, how should we report it?


Kansas Subscriber


Answer: You don't mention whether the anesthesiologists use general or monitored anesthesia care (MAC), which can affect your coding. Verify which they administered, and code accordingly.

If they use general anesthesia, report the service with 00635 (Anesthesia for procedures in lumbar region; diagnostic or therapeutic lumbar puncture). If they use MAC, submit 00635, and append modifier QS (Monitored anesthesia care service).
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