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Anesthesia Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

Rely on Multiple Codes for Labor Turned C-Section

Published on Sun Jan 01, 2006

Question: Our anesthesiologist placed a continuous epidural for a labor patient, and then remained in attendance while the obstetrician attempted an external cephalic version. The version was unsuccessful, so he delivered the baby by cesarean section. Which OB anesthesia codes should I use?


Delaware Subscriber
Answer: You should report 01967 (Neuraxial labor analgesia/anesthesia for planned vaginal delivery [this includes any repeat subarachnoid needle placement and drug injection and/or any necessary replacement of an epidural catheter during labor]) for the primary procedure, and then +01968 (Anesthesia for cesarean delivery following neuraxial labor analgesia/anesthesia [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure performed]) for the cesarean section.
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