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Anesthesia Coding Alert

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64605 Clarified

Published on Thu Mar 01, 2001

Question: Can you clarify the use of 64605? Does it crosswalk with 01961, the new anesthesia code?

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Answer: Coders use 64605 (destruction by neurolytic agent, trigeminal nerve; second and third division branches at foramen ovale) for diagnostic or therapeutic nerve blocks and injections that a different provider performs. According to the new American Association of Anesthesiologists Crosswalk, released in mid-February, it does crosswalk with 01961 (chemodenervation of muscle(s); muscle(s) innervated by facial nerve [e.g., for blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm]). If your anesthesiologist performs the procedure, bill 64605 as a medical procedure with a base value of 20. If another provider performs the procedure while your anesthesiologist administers anesthesia, bill the most appropriate anesthesia code based on the location of the injection, plus the associated time units.
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