Anesthesia Coding Alert

Knowing when you need to use modifier 59 is key to 64416 payment. Brachial plexus block sounds like a wrestling move, and many coders wrestle with whether to include the post-operative continuous catheter with their anesthesiologists global period billing in order to receive proper reimbursement. If you assume that every post-operative brachial plexus continuous catheter placement your anesthesiologist performs is bundled into the surgical procedure, you could be costing your practice around $82 per patient. Knowing when you can -- and can't -- report 64416 (Injection, anesthetic agent; brachial plexus, continuous infusion by catheter [including catheter placement] including daily management for anesthetic agent administration) is as easy as following three expert tips. Tip 1: Use 64416 for Post-Op Pain After shoulder surgery, patients often need pain management. When the surgeon asks your anesthesiologist to provide a brachial plexus catheter, you may be tempted to skip reporting 64416 assuming the post-operative pain service [...]