Advanced Search

Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Skip Billing Lidocaine With Block or Injection

Published on Tue Aug 09, 2011

Question: Our physicians often use a local anesthetic or a mixture of triamcinolone and lidocaine when performing a nerve block or joint injection. I've always heard that we couldn't bill separately for the anesthetic, but now a new provider in our group believes it's billable. Can we code for the lidocaine? Arkansas Subscriber Answer: Neurologists and pain management specialists commonly use lidocaine as an anesthetic during nerve blocks or joint or soft tissue injections, but that doesn't make it billable. HCPCS deleted the code for lidocaine in 2005 and payers currently consider lidocaine inclusive to the injection and not separately billable. According to Chapter 12 of the Medicare Claims Processing Manual, "There is no CPT® code for the performance of local anesthesia as payment for this service is considered in the payment in the underlying medical or surgical service." Consider: Your provider might be thinking of lidocaine that is administered [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

View All