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Anesthesia Coding Alert

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Understand Fees,Modifiers for 99135

Published on Thu May 01, 2003

Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.
Question: Should I report a modifier with Cpt 99135? Is it charged as a flat fee showing 1 unit, or should I use the 5 units? Michigan Subscriber

Answer: Code +99135 (Anesthesia complicated by utilization of controlled hypotension [list separately in addition to code for primary anesthesia procedure]) is one of four "qualifying circumstances" codes for anesthesia. Medicare does not pay for this code, but some commercial carriers allow extra units for it. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) recommends 5 units for 99135. This is an add-on code, which means it must be filed with another procedure code instead of alone. Because it's an add-on code, you shouldn't report it with a modifier.  

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