Wiki Cardiac surgery and Intercostal Blocks

[conleyclan]

Hello,

Does anyone bill for intercostal blocks for post-op pain? I have a surgeon that does the blocks himself, but CMS shows it as bundled per CCI edits.

Thanks.

 

[dvance4210]

I see where the CCI edits don't allow the block to be billed separately for thoracotomy procedures. We just talked about that at the STS meeting in Phoenix. I looked it up my coding companion book as well and it seems this is true with CABG's and valve's as well.

HTH(hope this helps)

 

[conleyclan]

Thanks. That is what I mentioned to the doc. He is having corporate compliance review the policy. Ugh...