You Be the Coder:
Report 62361-62362 for Pain Pumps
Published on Sat Feb 01, 2003
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.
Question: Should we report the new continuous infusion nerve block codes when inserting a pain pump postoperatively for pain management?
New Hampshire Subscriber
Answer: You should not use the new codes 64416 (Injection, anesthetic agent; brachial plexus, continuous infusion by catheter [including catheter placement] including daily management for anesthetic agent administration), 64446 (Injection, anesthetic agent; sciatic nerve, continuous infusion by catheter [including catheter placement], including daily management for anesthetic agent administration) and 64448 (Injection, anesthetic agent; femoral nerve, continuous infusion by catheter [including catheter placement] including daily management for anesthetic agent administration) for pain pump insertion. Instead, report these codes for pain management infusions through a catheter, either intermittently bolused or connected to an administration pump that delivers the medication.
If the physician implants a permanent pain pump, report 62361 (Implantation or replacement of device for intrathecal or epidural drug infusion; non-programmable pump) or 62362 (... programmable pump, including preparation of pump, with or without programming), depending on the type of pump. | |
