Anesthesia Coding Alert
You Be the Coder:
Submit This for Nasogastric Tube Placement
Published on Wed Oct 13, 2021
Question: I bill for a children’s hospital and a small child was brought to the OR and anesthetized to place the nasogastric tube. What is the most appropriate anesthesia code to report? Pennsylvania Subscriber Answer: Surgical code 43752 (Naso- or oro-gastric tube placement, requiring physician’s skill and fluoroscopic guidance (includes fluoroscopy, image documentation and report)) does not cross to an anesthesia code because anesthesia is typically not required for the service. You should report 01999 (Unlisted anesthesia procedure(s)) along with documentation supporting medical necessity for anesthesia.
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