Reader Question:
Workers' Comp LESI Codes Vary
Published on Sat Sep 13, 2003
Question: A physician performed a lumbar epidural steroid injection (LESI) on a workers' compensation patient. How should I code this?
Texas Subscriber Answer: Many workers' compensation carriers use old coding manuals or assign their own coding structures - which means there might be a wide range of acceptable codes (including ones that may not be in current versions of CPT).
Verify the correct code assignment with each workers' comp payer. If the carrier uses up-to-date codes, report 62311 (Injection, single [not via indwelling catheter], 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]) with 724.02 (Spinal stenosis, other than cervical; lumbar region). Check the carrier's guidelines to determine if they use old codes, so you can comply with their coding structure. - You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were provided by Cindy Parman, CPC, CPC-H, RCC, co-founder of Coding Strategies Inc., in Dallas, Ga.
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