Wiki Billing/reimbursement of surgical trays

[SCREWS]

Hi,

My pain management doctors sometimes use 2 trays for therapeutic spine injections when more than 1 level is injected or if performed bilaterally. What are the rules for billing trays (Epidural and myelogram). Are both reimbursed? Any advice or suggested references are welcomed.

Saundra

 

[JenniferB7]

The Surgery Guidelines of CPT state: "Supplies and materials (eg. sterile trays/drugs), over and above those usually included with the procedure(s) rendered are reported separately."

The key here is "over and above" what would normally be required to perform that procedure. Based on what you have described, it does not appear that the use the of 2 trays for an additional level or bilateral injections is "over and above". If you would normally use one tray to perform the procedure for a single level or unilateral injection, then it makes sense that you would use two trays to perform the procedure on 2 levels or bilaterally.

Hope that helps!