Advanced Search

Eli's Rehab Report

Reader Question:

Same-Day SI and Facet Injections

Published on Tue Apr 01, 2003

Question: Which codes should we report for a sacroiliac (SI) injection on the same day as three different lumbar facet injections?

Idaho Subscriber

Answer: If the physiatrist performed unilateral facet injections to three different levels and documented a separate SI injection procedure with radiologic imaging to confirm needle placement, you should report the following codes:

  • 64475 (Injection, anesthetic agent and/or steroid, paravertebral facet joint or facet joint nerve; lumbar or sacral, single level) linked to the diagnosis code that supports the first-level facet injection
  • +64476 x 2 (... lumbar or sacral, each additional level) linked to the diagnosis code that supports the two subsequent-level facet injections
  • 27096-59 (Injection procedure for sacroiliac joint, arthrography and/or anesthetic/steroid; Distinct procedural service) linked to the diagnosis code that supports the SI injection
  • 76005-26 (Fluoroscopic guidance and localization of needle or catheter tip for spine or paraspinous diagnostic or therapeutic injection procedures [epidural, transforaminal epidural, subarachnoid, paravertebral facet joint, paravertebral facet joint nerve or sacroiliac joint], including neurolytic agent destruction; Professional component) (one unit) for the professional portion of the radiologic imaging. If your practice owns the fluorosocopy equipment and performs the technical component as well, you should report 76005 with no modifiers.

     

    • Other Articles in this issue of

    Eli's Rehab Report

    View All