Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
USE LIDOCAINE ONLY FOR CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS AND BIER BLOCKS
A new code for 2004, J2001 (Injection, lidocaine HC1 for intravenous infusion, 10 mg) made it easier to bill for lidocaine in smaller quantities than the old code, J2000, which specified 50 cc quantities. But you still have to be careful what you bill J2001 for.
Most carriers, such as Cahaba GBA, state flatly that they'll cover J2001 for intravenous injection for management of "cardiac arrhythmias and emergencies only." But Empire Medicare Services says its local coverage decision, effective late June, will also cover J2001 for intravenous regional anesthesia (or Bier Block) incident to a physician's service.
CCI 10.2 aims to reinforce that prohibition. As of July 1, J2001 is considered a component of over 1,100 surgeries and procedures. You can use a modifier to override these edits, but don't expect the carriers to be very sympathetic unless you can show that the patient had a cardiac arrhythmia, or possibly needed a Bier Block.
Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
- CCI DELETIONS:
Come July, You Can Bill Separately For Colpopexy, Catheter Insertion
CMS removes burdensome edits from dozens of codes When the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid [...] - NEW CCI EDITS:
New Septal Defect Repair Edits Make 95380-95381 More Confusing
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Magnetic resonance imaging is one of the fastest growing services for Medicare, and the CCI [...] - DIGESTIVE SURGERY:
Avoid Billing For Esophagoscopy, Endoscopy With Digestive Surgeries
Colonoscopy, laparoscopy become part of stomach procedures If your physician is performing a lot of [...] - USE LIDOCAINE ONLY FOR CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS AND BIER BLOCKS
A new code for 2004, J2001 (Injection, lidocaine HC1 for intravenous infusion, 10 mg) made [...] - STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY:
New Code Reimburses $5,250 - But Only If You Can Navigate New CCI Edits
Stereotactic radiosurgery becomes more difficult after July 1 Now that you've gotten used to those [...] - Carrier Requirements For Stereotactic Radiosurgery
According to a local coverage decision by Part B carrier Blue Cross & Blue Shield [...] - SURGICAL PROCEDURES:
Craniectomy And Craniotomy Codes Become Entangled With Edits
Surgical procedures become more complicated to bill this summer Anesthesiologists will find it more difficult [...] - Part B Coding Coach:
Diabetes Complications Got You Confused? Not Anymore.
5 tips help your diabetes diagnosis codes justify higher-level E/M services Reporting the details of [...] - PHYSICIAN NOTES:
Dialysis Drugs Overpriced, Underdocumented
Watch out for possible ESRD cuts next year If you're providing dialysis services, watch out [...]
