Reader Question:
Intravenous Anesthesia
Published on Fri Mar 01, 2002
Question: How should we code for intravenous use of Valium, Lidocaine and Demerol?
New York Subscriber
Answer: CPT explains that surgical codes include local infiltration, metacarpal blocks and topical anesthesia. However, CPT added two codes in 1999 to report conscious sedation, including 99141 (Sedation with or without analgesia [conscious sedation]; intravenous, intramuscular or inhalation) for IV sedation. This code includes performance and documentation of the pre- and postsedation evaluations of the patient, administration of sedation and monitoring cardiorespiratory function. The service may only be billed if an independent trained observer assists the physician with the monitoring and physiological status.
