Reader Question:
Pain Catheter
Published on Sat Jun 01, 2002
Question: How should we code for the insertion of a pain catheter? Because the catheters are not intravenous or arterial implantation devices, we have been using 64415* (Injection, anesthetic agent; brachial plexus). Florida Subscriber Answer: There are two items in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' (AAOS) guidelines that indicate you should not report a separate code for inserting a pain catheter. Services that are in the global service package in AAOS' Complete Global Service Data for Orthopedic Surgery include the following:
local infiltration of medication(s), anesthetic or contrast agent before, during, or at the conclusion of the operation insertion, placement, and removal of surgical drain(s), reinfusion device(s), irrigation tube(s), catheter(s), or suction devices. Based on this information, inserting a pain catheter for pain medication infiltration at the operative site is included in the global surgery package, and you should not attempt to charge separately for this service.
