Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Question: When my neurologist injects the lower cervical muscles with bupivacaine, which CPT code should I submit?

Louisiana Subscriber

Answer: For a lower cervical muscles bupivacaine injection, CPT's trigger point injection codes provide you with your best options. You should select either 20552 (Injection[s]; single or multiple trigger point[s], one or two muscle[s]) or 20553 (- single or multiple trigger point[s], three or more muscles), depending on the specific number of muscles your neurologist injects.

Remember: You may be able to report the bupivacaine using S0020 (Injection, bupivacaine HCl, 30 ml).

About S codes: The HCPCS 2008 guide states that S codes are used by the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association and the Health Insurance Association of America to report drugs, services and supplies when there aren't national codes, but when the private sector needs codes to implement policies, programs or claims processing. The Medicaid program uses S codes, but they-re not payable by Medicare.