Advanced Search

Anesthesia Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Numbing Injections

Published on Sun Apr 01, 2001

Question: One of our anesthesiologists uses xylocaine to numb the area before administering the real drug for trigger point injections or other procedures. Can this be billed separately?

Indiana Subscriber

Answer: Anesthetics like xylocaine are usually injected in the joint, trigger point or bursa to numb the pain and are considered part of the treatment injection. Heres an example of how to bill for an arthrocentesis. Bill for the procedure with code 20610* (arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection; major joint or bursa [e.g., shoulder, hip, knee joint, subacromial bursa]) and the injected drug code J0810 (injection, cortisone, up to 50 mg), but not the anesthetic used to numb the area before administering the real drug.

You could also bill for the syringe and needle used with code A4209 (syringe with needle, sterile 5 cc or greater, each).
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Anesthesia Coding Alert

View All