Wiki Bilateral surgery

[OEHMLER5]

When a pt has bilateral total knee surgery, should anesthesia bill only one cpt code of 27447 or the same CPT code twice? There were 2 blocks done on this pt which were charged using left and right modifiers and the -59 modifier. Thanks.

 

[hgolfos]

For the primary procedure you would bill the appropriate ASA crossover code (01402) only once without the bilateral mod. The anesthesia services are the same whether the procedure is unilateral or bilateral. The only difference is the amount of time it takes to complete the procedure.

 

[danachock]

TKA nerve block

I typically see both a sciatic nerve block 64445 and femoral nerve block 64447 when a TKA is done. So for bilateral procedure if four nerve blocks are done total - be sure you use LT and RT modifiers when you post those nerve blocks. Also be sure to include the 59 modifier on each of those nerve blocks.
Hope this helps,
Dana Chock CPC-A, CCA, CANPC, CHONC