Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: Can you explain to me when I should report codes 01935/01936 and 01991/01992? Our provider performed fluoroscopically guided medial branch nerve radiofrequency neurotomy on the right side of C3 and C4.

Missouri Subscriber

Answer: In most situations, medial branch blocks serve as a diagnostic block and should be coded as 01935 (Anesthesia for percutaneous image guided procedures on the spine and spinal cord; diagnostic). If the payer allows therapeutic facet injections and your provider documents that as the purpose for the block, you can report 01936 (… therapeutic).

Codes 01991 (Anesthesia for diagnostic or therapeutic nerve blocks and injections (when block or injection is performed by a different physician or other qualified health care professional); other than the prone position) and 01992 (… prone position) are used when your physician administers anesthesia while another provider administers the block. Neither of these codes seems to apply to the situation you describe.