Wiki Anesthesia - for the surgery's

[dscaruthers]

Hi,
I was wondering if someone could help me in this question? I code for surgery's and anesthesia for the surgery's.
The question is when the anesthesiologist physician does a intraoperative TEE is this a separate CPT code 93318-59. The anesthesiologist physician does dictate a separate note for this also. Is it a separate encounter?
Thank you,
Diane

 

[mcnaryk]

Hi Diane! We bill just for the anesthesiologists here in our office so when we bill a TEE, it's usually probe placement only, or 93313. If your physician is also providing a report, then 93318 is correct with the modifier 59. A separate encounter shouldn't be needed-the modifier indicates that this was separate from the anesthesia service provided at the same time. Hope this helps!

Kristina, CPC, CANPC