Anesthesia Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Look for New Paravertebral Thoracic Block Codes in 2016

Question: My physician documented that he placed a thoracic paravertebral block for post-op pain management. The only codes I’m finding for paravertebral blocks are 64470-64484 and 64490-64493, but I’m not sure if they apply for post-op pain management. Am I missing codes somewhere?

Alabama Subscriber

Answer: CPT® instructs you to report these paravertebral injections (not facet joint injections) with one of the intercostal injection codes. Report either 64420 (Injection, anesthetic agent; intercostal nerve, single) or 64421 (…intercostal nerves, multiple, regional block), depending upon how many nerves your physician injects.

That will change in a few weeks, when 2016 will bring specific codes for this type of procedure:

  • 64461 – Paravertebral block (PVB) (paravertebral block), thoracic single injection site (including imaging guidance, when performed)
  • + 64462 – … second and any additional injection site(s) (including imaging guidance, when performed)(List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
  • 64463 – … continuous infusion by catheter (including imaging guidance, when performed).


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