Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Question: My neurologist was performing a magnetoencephalogram and the patient went into respiratory arrest. The neurologist performed lifesaving critical care. Can I code for the critical care? Massachusetts Subscriber Answer: Yes, as long as your neurologist's documentation supports the critical care coding. The American Medical Association (AMA) CPT 2010 defines critical illness or injury as one that "acutely impairs one or more vital organ systems such that there is a high probability of imminent or life threatening deterioration in the patient's condition." Any physician can administer critical care at any time. In the event your neurologist provides critical care, you'll choose from the following codes: 99291 -- Critical care, evaluation and management of the critically ill or critically injured patient; first 30-74 minutes +99292 -- ... each additional 30 minutes. In the scenario above, you would report 95965 (Magnetoencephalography [MEG], recording and analysis; for spontaneous brain magnetic activity [e.g., epileptic cerebral cortex [...]