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Anesthesia Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

Submit Supra-Orbital Block With 64400

Published on Wed Jul 20, 2005

Question: How should I code a supra-orbital block for postherpetic neuralgia? The physician administered Bupivacaine and Depo-Medrol.


Michigan Subscriber
Answer: You're reporting the injection (block) itself instead of anesthesia, so you report a surgical code. Submit 64400 (Injection, anesthetic agent; trigeminal nerve, any division or branch).

Depending on the situation, you might also be able to code for the Bupivacaine and Depo-Medrol. If the physician performs the block in a hospital or surgical center, the facility gets reimbursed for the drugs. But if you're dealing with an office setting without facility fees,you could possibly bill S0020 (Injection, bupivacaine HCl, 30 ml) for the Bupivacaine and the correct choice from J1020-J1040 (various amounts of Injection, methylprednisolone acetate) for the Depo-Medrol.
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