Reader Question:
Post-op Epidural Block Merits 62319
Published on Thu Jun 02, 2011
Question: Our anesthesiologist inserted a lumbar epidural catheter to manage post-op pain following a total knee replacement procedure. The catheter was connected in the post-anesthesia care unit to medication as a continuous infusion. Can we bill for this separately? Also, what if our anesthesiologist visits the patient the next day to see how the continuous epidural is working? Can we also bill for this visit separately?California SubscriberAnswer: If your anesthesiologist did not use the epidural catheter as a means of anesthesia for the surgery, then you can use 62319 (Injection, including catheter placement, continuous infusion or intermittent bolus, not including neurolytic substances, with or without contrast [for either localization or epidurography], of diagnostic or therapeutic substance[s] [including anesthetic, antispasmodic, opioid, steroid, other solution], epidural or subarachnoid; lumbar, sacral [caudal]), to report the epidural catheter placement. Because the block is performed on the same day as surgery, make sure to append [...]