Orthopedic Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Marcaine Payment

Question: I am having difficulty getting paid for Marcaine. We use the unlisted HCPCS code J3490 (unclassified drugs) and the insurance either denies the claim or ignores the code. Is this the correct code to use?

New Jersey Subscriber

Answer: Injectable supplies such as Marcaine or Lidocaine, when used as local anesthetics, are generally considered incidental to the global allowance for the injection procedure (i.e., 90782, therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic injection [specify material injected]; subcutaneous or intramuscular). Therapeutic injectable supplies such as steroids are reimbursable through their specific J code.

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