Aim for Specificity for Coding Anesthesia During Lithotripsy
Question: Which CPT® codes might be appropriate for reporting anesthesia services performed during a lithotripsy to treat a kidney stone? Missouri Subscriber Answer: A lithotripsy is a type of procedure that uses shock waves to break up stones, usually performed under general anesthesia. The procedure is sometimes performed in a water bath but now more commonly performed with the patient resting upon a water- or gel-filled cushion or pad on a table. The targeted stones may be in the kidney(s), ureter, bladder, gallbladder, or pancreatic duct. You should always code to the documentation provided and, if necessary, query the provider to get the details you need to select the most accurate code. The CPT® codes you can use to report anesthesia services for lithotripsy of the kidney may include: Rachel Dorrell, MA, MS, CPC-A, CPPM, Production Editor, AAPC
