Eli's Rehab Report

Answer: An injection into the hip is coded as 20610 (arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection; major joint or bursa [e.g., shoulder, hip, knee joint, subacromial bursa]) regardless of whether it is performed while the patient is under anesthesia, recommends Denice A. Wells, CPC, surgery coder for Arizona Bone and Joint Specialist Ltd. in Scottsdale, Ariz. If the physiatrist had difficulty performing the procedure and could validate through his or her documentation that there was an increased work level of approximately 30 to 50 percent, you might consider submitting the documentation with a -22 modifier (unusual procedural services) and asking for additional reimbursement. Just because the procedure is performed under anesthesia does not usually justify an increase. Carriers are looking for a significant increase in the physicians actual work effort.

The fluoroscopy (76000, fluoroscopy [separate procedure], up to one hour physician time, other than CPT 71023 or CPT 71034 ) is considered bundled into 20610, so it is not separately billable.