Anesthesia Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Consider These Options in Place of 01936

Question: Now that anesthesia code 01936 is deleted from CPT®, what should we report for anesthesia that’s administered during intralaminar injections?

Kansas Subscriber

Answer: Coding guidelines point you toward several options to report in place of 01936 (Anesthesia for percutaneous image guided procedures on the spine and spinal cord; therapeutic). You’ll choose the most appropriate one based on the specific injection administered and the spinal segment targeted.

The alternatives are:

  • 01937 (Anesthesia for percutaneous image-guided injection, drainage or aspiration procedures on the spine or spinal cord; cervical or thoracic)
  • 01938 (… lumbar or sacral)
  • 01939 (… cervical or thoracic)
  • 01940 (Anesthesia for percutaneous image-guided destruction procedures by neurolytic agent on the spine or spinal cord; lumbar or sacral)
  • 01941 (Anesthesia for percutaneous image-guided neuromodulation or intravertebral procedures (eg, kyphoplasty, vertebroplasty) on the spine or spinal cord; cervical or thoracic)
  • 01942 (… lumbar or sacral)

Take note: Related code 01935 (Anesthesia for percutaneous image guided procedures on the spine and spinal cord; diagnostic) also has been deleted, effective Jan. 1, 2022.


Other Articles in this issue of

Anesthesia Coding Alert

View All