Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question:The physician administered transforaminal epidural steroid injections to the right L3, L4, and L5. How should we code this encounter for Medicare? Georgia Subscriber Answer: First, begin with the correct injection codes 64483 (Injection[s], anesthetic agent and/or steroid, transforaminal epidural, with imaging guidance [fluoroscopy or CT]; lumbar or sacral, single level) and 64484 (...lumbar or sacral, each additional level [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure]).Next, look at how to report the codes. Remember that with Medicare, you report the number of units for each code on a single line rather than listing each code individually. List the spinal level in HCFA box 19 on the claim. Your coding would be as follows: 64483 ��" L3 64484 ��" 2 units ��" L4, L5. You'll also want to include the anatomic modifier LT (Left side) or RT (Right side), whichever is appropriate.