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Anesthesia Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Report 64640 for RF of Ilioinguinal Neuroma

Published on Tue Jul 11, 2006

Question: How should I code radiofrequency of an ilioinguinal neuroma?

Washington Subscriber Answer: When a physician performs radiofrequency ablation, he usually "cooks" the nerve to permanently destroy it. Therefore, the best code for standard radiofrequency procedures is 64640 (Destruction by neurolytic agent; other peripheral nerve or branch).
 
In many cases, the physician first administers a temporary block to verify the treatment location and ensure the block will relieve the patient's pain. In your situation, report the temporary block with 64425 (Injection, anesthetic agent; ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric nerves). If the temporary block works, the physician follows with radiofrequency during another visit.
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