Wiki Billing anesthesia consult on same day as anesthesia services

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cherylbr

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Would it be appropriate to bill an anesthesia consult in addition to the placement of catheter done at bedside in the following scenario?
1-23-18 10:30AM Anesthesia pre-Anesthesia evaluation done for scheduled I&D of forearm abscess today in OR.
1-23-18 2PM Anesthesia consult request by medical service for peripheral IV access due to pt's hx of substance abuse. Placement of IV catheter performed at bedside.
1-23-18 4:30PM General anesthesia performed in OR for I & D of forearm abscess.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thank you:)
 
It's hard to say definitively without reviewing the documentation, but based just on what you've described there doesn't appear to be anything to support billing a separate E&M service. The pre-anesthesia evaluation is inclusive to the general anesthesia service itself, and the minor procedure of placing the catheter would include any necessary E&M related to that procedure. A consult is really meant for use when another provider requires the specialist's opinion about the management of the patient's problem. Just requesting an anesthesiologist to provide IV access isn't a consult and does not require a separately identifiable E&M service.
 
cherylbr said:
Would it be appropriate to bill an anesthesia consult in addition to the placement of catheter done at bedside in the following scenario?
1-23-18 10:30AM Anesthesia pre-Anesthesia evaluation done for scheduled I&D of forearm abscess today in OR.
1-23-18 2PM Anesthesia consult request by medical service for peripheral IV access due to pt's hx of substance abuse. Placement of IV catheter performed at bedside.
1-23-18 4:30PM General anesthesia performed in OR for I & D of forearm abscess.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thank you:)
Click to expand...

Without the documentation, it would be hard to say. But it doesn't look like there is enough to support a consult code. The pre-eval is inclusive to the anesthesia service for the procedure. If anesthesia placed the IV catheter rather than the surgeon or nurse, you would bill for the placement.
 
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