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Anesthesia Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

Only Report CP Block for Post-Op Pain

Published on Wed Mar 22, 2006

Question: Our physician used general anesthesia during a patient's carotid endarterectomy, but also administered a cervical plexus block. The block was not for postoperative pain management. Can I code it separately?


North Carolina Subscriber
Answer: Using general anesthesia in conjunction with the cervical plexus block is known as a combined anesthesia technique. Report the main procedure with 00350 (Anesthesia for procedures on major vessels of ), which includes the cervical plexus block.

You should only report the cervical plexus block separately when the surgeon requests it and you have documentation that it is for post-op pain management. In that case, report 64413 (Injection, anesthetic agent; cervical plexus) and append modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service) to indicate that it is separate from the surgical procedure.
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