ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert
Digital Blocks Can Be Separate
Question: Can we ever bill separately for a digital block? If so, when?
Arkansas Subscriber
Answer: Physicians perform digital blocks solely for pain control, and you should not associate these services with suturing or other procedures that are separately billable.
But if the physician administers the digital block without performing any other procedures or services, you can bill for it.
For instance, suppose a patient presents to the emergency department after accidentally crushing her finger in a car door. In this case, the ED physician might perform a digital block for the injury to the finger, but perform no other procedures. For this treatment, you would appropriately report a digital block with code 64450 (Injection, anesthetic agent; other peripheral nerve or branch).
ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert
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Arkansas Subscriber
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