Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

New Category III codes bring much-needed specificity.July brings announcements regarding new Category III codes, so prepare now for new transforaminal epidural codes just going into effect or that you'll use beginning Jan. 1, 2011. Start Using New Transforaminal Choices The American Medical Association (AMA) released four new transforaminal injection codes in January. They went into effect July 1, so update your systems accordingly:0228T -- Injection(s), anesthetic agent and/or steroid, transforaminal epidural, with ultrasound guidance, cervical or thoracic; single level0229T -- ... each additional level (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)0230T -- Injection(s), anesthetic agent and/or steroid, transforaminal epidural, with ultrasound guidance, lumbar or sacral; single level0231T -- ... each additional level (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure).The additions finally give coders specific choices for epidural steroid injections, says Catherine Brink, BS, CPC, CMM, CMSCS, president of Healthcare Resource Management, Inc., in Spring Lake, N.J. In the past, you resorted [...]