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Anesthesia Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Myelography Coding Without Radiologist

Published on Sat Sep 01, 2001

Question: An anesthesiologist performed a lumbar epidural injection with contrast dye and intraspinal myelography without spinal puncture. How should we code for this procedure in an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) when we have a technologist on staff but not a radiologist?

Ohio Subscriber
 
Answer: A code from 72240-72270 (myelography) should be used to report the radiological supervision and interpretation of the myelography, depending on the location. Because you do not have a radiologist on staff, you should bill only for the technical component of the service by appending modifier -TC (technical component) to the procedure code. Watch for codes that are not allowed for reporting ASC services; some carriers will pay only for specific injections at locations other than the outpatient-services area of a hospital. Every year, Medicare publishes a list of procedures that can be performed in an ASC, so check with your local carrier.
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