Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

An anesthesiologist who routinely billed for sedation and nerve-block services for two patients at the same time violated the -continuous presence- requirement of the anesthesia codes, ruled the U.S. District Court for New Jersey.

That decision came in response to anesthesiologist Kenneth Zahl-s appeal of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ruling that he owed thousands to Medicare. Anesthesiologists in Zahl's practice would supervise two patients at once--one received sedation and nerve block in the pre-operative area; the other received these services in the operating room.