Anesthesia Coding Alert
Use Several Codes When Billing Interscalene Block with MAC
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer. Question: How should I code for a single interscalene block performed under monitored anesthesia care (MAC) prior to general anesthesia? The anesthesiologist administered general anesthesia for the surgery and the interscalene block for post-op pain management. Do we have to document that the patient wanted the block and general anesthesia for the surgery? Do we bill differently for a single-shot interscalene block with a catheter insertion for later post-op pain control? Massachusetts Subscriber Answer: As with any pain block administered for postprocedure pain control, the anesthesiologist must document the request because Medicare includes pain relief in the global surgical fee (which means the surgeon is responsible for postoperative pain management).
Use 01991 (Anesthesia for diagnostic or therapeutic nerve blocks and injections [when block or injection is performed by a different provider]; other than the prone position) to report the MAC service during the nerve block. Code the initial interscalene block with 64415* (Injection, anesthetic agent; brachial plexus, single). Report CPT 64416 ( brachial plexus, continuous infusion by catheter [including catheter placement] including daily management for anesthetic agent administration) for post-op pain management. This new code has a 10-day global period.
Anesthesia Coding Alert
- CCI 9.0 Has More Edits That Directly Affect Anesthesia Providers
Version 9.0 of the Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits, effective from Jan. 1 to March [...] - Pay Attention to CCI Edit Deletions Too
It's easy to get so swamped by the new Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) bundlings each [...] - Conversion Factors Drop,but Work Values Increase
CMS has announced a reduction in the national Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor to $34.5920 [...] - You Be the Coder:
Use Several Codes When Billing Interscalene Block with MAC
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Take Note of Unit Values
Even if codes remain the same from one version of CPT to the next, it's [...] - Reader Question:
Contrast and Fluoroscopy Determine Codes for an MRI of the Elbow
Question: How should I code an MRI of the elbow? The carrier rejected 24220 (Injection [...] - Reader Question:
Can You Code for CPR Performed Before the Procedure?
Question: Our anesthesiologist was scheduled to place a Port-a-Cath for a lung cancer patient. The [...] - Reader Question:
Modifier -23 Unnecessary for Intubation After Cardiac Arrest
Question: Our anesthesiologist intubated an intensive care unit patient due to cardiac arrest. What is [...] - Reader Question:
Show Medical Necessity for Endoscopy
Question: Does Medicare have specific guidelines regarding reimbursement for 00740 (Anesthesia for upper gastrointestinal endoscopic [...] - Reader Question:
How Do You Charge for Epidural Along with Delivery?
Question: Should we report 62311 or 62319 for placement of an epidural for delivery in [...] - Reader Question:
Report Single Code for Arteriogram with Revascularization
Question: What codes should we use for an arteriogram with revascular-ization of the leg? Utah [...]
