Neurosurgery Coding Alert
Dont Charge Separately for Marcaine
Question: I am having difficulty getting paid for Marcaine. We use the HCPCS code J3490 (Unclassified drugs), and the insurance either denies the claim or ignores the code. Is this the correct code? New York Subscriber Answer: Payers generally consider injectable supplies such as Marcaine or Lidocaine, when used as local anesthetics, to be incidental to the global allowance for the injection procedure (for example, 90782, Therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic injection [specify material injected]; subcutaneous or intramuscular). Therefore, if you use Marcaine as a local anesthetic, the carrier is correct to "ignore" the claim. Therapeutic injectable supplies such as steroids, however, are reimbursable through their specific J code.
Neurosurgery Coding Alert
- Modifier -59 Unlocks Separate Reimbursement for Hematoma Removal With Tumor Excision
Brain tumor excision (61510) and extra- or subdural hematoma evacuation (61312) are so intertwined and [...] - Part 1:
Understand Global Periods and Avoid a World of Hurt
So-called "global" periods which define a package of services or care associated with and bundled [...] - You Be the Coder:
Outpatient E/M Codes Are Appropriate for ED
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Global Period Lengths Vary
Under Medicare guidelines as established by the Physician Fee Schedule, there are four primary global [...] - Reader Question:
New NPP Rules Affect Hospital,Not Office,E/Ms
Question: I've heard that CMS issued a memorandum regarding new nonphysician practitioner (NPP) guidelines. Will [...] - Reader Question:
Medicare Wont Cover Stereotactic Cingulotomy
Question: What is stereotactic cingulotomy? How should I code for it? I can find no [...] - Reader Question:
Radiology Codes Are Bundled to Vertebroplasty
Question: What is the difference between percutaneous vertebroplasty (22520-22522) and kyphoplasty? How should I report [...] - Reader Question:
Append Modifier -57 During Global Period Only
Question: My physician is adding modifier -57 to all E/M visits when he makes the [...] - Reader Question:
Dont Charge Separately for Marcaine
Question: I am having difficulty getting paid for Marcaine. We use the HCPCS code J3490 [...] - Reader Question:
Be Precise With ICD-9 Codes
Question: Are lumbar discogenic disease and lumbar disc disease coded 722.10 (Lumbar intervertebral [...]
