Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Question: Our surgeon placed an epidural drug infusion pump. An assistant helped in this procedure. Postoperatively, the patient was moved out of the OR and the assistant then performed the electronic analysis. Is it correct to bill both 62362-AS and 62368 for the surgeon assistant? Or, is the code 62368 already included in the 62362 portion of the procedure performed that same day?

New York Subscriber

Answer: You report 62362 (Implantation or replacement of device for intrathecal or epidural drug infusion; programmable pump, including preparation of pump, with or without programming). The initial interrogation and programming is included in the vignette for placement of the infusion pump. Subsequent electronic analysis and reprogramming may be reported with 62368 (Electronic analysis of programmable, implanted pump for intrathecal or epidural drug infusion [includes evaluation of reservoir status, alarm status, drug prescription status]; with reprogramming), appended with the appropriate modifier if needed.