Eli's Rehab Report
Lidocaine for Peroneal Sural Nerve Block
Question: Our physiatrist documented a left peroneal sural nerve block. He indicates that he used lidocaine for temporary relief of the patient's pain. Which CPT code should I use for this? Massachusetts Subscriber Answer: You can code the injection with 64450* (Injection, anesthetic agent; other peripheral nerve or branch), but you cannot bill separately for the lidocaine (J2000). Medicare will not accept claims for this drug when billed with any ICD-9 code other than those related to cardiac arrhythmias and emergencies. For example, Georgia Medicare's policy for lidocaine states, "The dosage indicated by the code description is specific to the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and emergencies only. The billing of J2000 is not appropriate for the 1-2 cc usually required for a local anesthetic."
Eli's Rehab Report
- Bone Up on Coding for Epidural Blocks
Physical medicine and rehabilitation practices that administer epidural blocks to reduce pain and inflammation or [...] - Improvement Is Key for Blind Patients Rehab
Most PM&R practices rejoiced when CMS announced it would allow expanded rehabilitation coverage for blind [...] - You Be the Coder:
X-Ray Interpretation
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - ICD-9 Coding Corner:
Place Your Diagnosis Codes in the Right Order
Many PM&R patients have multiple problems like the workers' compensation patient with back and neck [...] - New Version of CCI Bundles Injection Codes
Ever since the AMA introduced the new injection and trigger point codes (20526, 20551-20553) last [...] - Clarification:
Radiological Supervision for Diskography
In our July issue, we published a reader question about diskography coding in which we [...] - HCPCS Code Makes Myobloc Coding Painless
Billing for Botox type B (also known as BTB, or by its trade name Myobloc) [...] - News Brief:
CMS Announces New Code for Hyalgan
On June 11, CMS released program memorandum AB-02-082, introducing a new code for sodium hyaluronate, [...] - Reader Question:
Disability Evaluation
Question: In your July issue, you recommended using CPT 99080 (Special reports such [...] - Reader Question:
PA Seeing New Patients
Question: We have a physician's assistant on staff. Can he use the E/M codes to [...] - Reader Question:
EMG on Two Extremities
Question: Our physiatrist did an EMG on bilateral lower extremities, including the lumbar paraspinal muscle. [...] - Reader Question:
Lidocaine for Peroneal Sural Nerve Block
Question: Our physiatrist documented a left peroneal sural nerve block. He indicates that he used [...] - Reader Question:
Nerve Conduction Study With E/M
Question: We are often denied when we bill nerve conduction studies (95900-95904) with E/M codes. [...]
