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Orthopedic Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Pain Pump

Published on Tue Jan 01, 2002

Question: I have been using 37202 (transcatheter therapy, infusion other than for thrombolysis, any type [e.g., spasmolytic vasoconstrictive] ) for insertion of a pain pump for Medicare patients, and it is being denied. Is it bundled with another procedure?

Kentucky Subscriber
 
Answer: Although your question does not specify, it is likely that the insertion of the catheter for delivery of local anesthesia to the operative site constitutes postoperative pain management. If this is the case, Medicare would not allow separate reimbursement for the insertion of the catheter as their global surgery policy states that postoperative pain management by the surgeon is part of the global package.
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