Question: Our providers offer kyphoplasty in the office setting. One physician performs the kyphoplasty and another physician or a CRNA provides anesthesia. Is this billable, and can the physician doing the kyphoplasty also be the supervisor for the CRNA?
Answer: CPT® includes three codes for kyphoplasty, based on the spinal site and number of vertebral bodies treated:
Report these codes as appropriate for the physician performing the kyphoplasty. Report the anesthesia with 01936 (Anesthesia for percutaneous image guided procedures on the spine and spinal cord; therapeutic), whether the provider is an anesthesiologist or CRNA.
The physician cannot perform the procedure and also medically direct or supervise the CRNA at the same time. If a CRNA provides the anesthesia, submit the claim with 01936 and append modifier QZ (CRNA service: without medical direction by a physician). Only report the applicable kyphoplasty code for the physician.
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