Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: Our CRNA placed a broviac catheter under general anesthesia. The carrier denied the claim when we submitted V49.89 as the primary diagnosis and ICD-9 730.05 as the secondary diagnosis for osteomye-litis. What is the problem with this?

Texas Subscriber

Answer: You should report CPT 00532 (Anesthesia for access to central venous circulation) and append modifier -QZ (CRNA service: without medical direction by a physician) if no anesthesiologist supervised the case. Then switch the order of your diagnoses.
 
Some states (including Texas) publish a list of noncovered V codes, which might explain your denials.

Report 730.05 (Osteomyelitis, periostitis, and other infections involving bone; acute osteomyelitis; pelvic region and thigh) as the primary diagnosis and V49.89 (Other specified conditions influencing health status) as your secondary diagnosis code.