Focus on Procedure Rather Than Location
Question: How should you code anesthesia when it is provided in a cardiac catheterization lab? Codify Subscriber Answer: When anesthesia services are performed in a cath lab, coding is based on the procedure performed, not the location itself. The anesthesia code is determined by first identifying the appropriate CPT® code and crosswalking to the appropriate anesthesia code, just as would be done if the procedure occurred in an outpatient or inpatient hospital setting. If multiple procedures are performed during the same anesthetic session, report the procedure with the highest base unit value, according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Relative Value Guide®. Julie McDaniel, MHA, CPC, CANPC, Contributing Writer
