Anesthesia Coding Alert
Procedure Includes Bupivicaine Anesthetic
Question: Massachusetts Subscriber Answer: The provider uses bupivicaine as a local anesthetic to decrease the patient's discomfort associated with the steroid injection. Most payers and even the CPT surgical package definition notes that "Local infiltration, metacarpal/metatarsal/digital block or topical anesthesia" is considered to be included in the procedure code, so you won't report it separately. Submit J1094 (Injection, dexamethasone acetate, 1 mg) or J1100 (Injection, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, 1mg) for the dexamethasone. The medication comes in many different strengths, so confirm the product your physician used in order to calculate the number of units to bill.
Anesthesia Coding Alert
- Diagnosis Coding:
High BMI Can Contribute to More Complicated Anesthesia
New code choices could support higher coding, but don't assume you need -22.This year's new [...] - Documentation:
Unlock Payment for Unlisted Procedures With Pre-Authorization
Start documenting before the procedure to help win the bottom line battle. Selecting the correct [...] - Pain Management:
Say Good-Bye to Bilateral Charges for Chemodenervation
Plus: Add this new botulinum drug to your coding toolbox.The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule will [...] - ICD-10:
C-Section Diagnosis 669.71 Becomes O82 With ICD-10
Check out your future fall-back code for cases without indications noted.As much as it might [...] - Reader Questions:
Submit 01922 for Intubation During CT Scan
Question: Our anesthesiologist sedated and intubated an autistic adult before she underwent a CT scan. [...] - You Be the Coder:
Ureter Location Dictates Lithotripsy Code
Question: Which anesthesia code should we use for lithotripsy or laser of ureteral calculus?Alabama SubscriberAnswer: [...] - Reader Questions:
Vascular Access Separates +76937 From 76942
Question: The anesthesiologist placed a line and used ultrasound guidance during the procedure. What documentation [...] - Reader Questions:
Convert to Units for Reporting More Minutes
Question: When billing for code 01967, sometimes the time is over 999 minutes. In one [...] - Reader Questions:
Select 64449 for Lumbar Catheter Placement
Question: Our anesthesiologist placed a catheter for anesthetic at the lumbar plexus, and made visits [...] - Reader Questions:
Verify Extubation for Switch-Over Case
Question: Upon emergence, a hernia repair patient experienced cardiac arrest, so staff began CPR and [...] - Reader Questions:
Choose J1020, J1030, J1040 Based on Strength
Question: Depo-Medrol comes in three different strengths, but the code doesn't state how much is [...] - Reader Questions:
Procedure Includes Bupivicaine Anesthetic
Question: How should we code for bilateral greater occipital nerve blocks with 1.5 cc of [...]
