Pain Management Coding Alert

Question: Our provider often performs therapeutic injections for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). These injections include use of a drug, such as a local anesthetic, corticosteroid, etc. Can we report the injection code and drug supply, or is the supply included in the injection code?

Massachusetts Subscriber

Answer: The code for the procedure you describe is 20526 (Injection, therapeutic (eg, local anesthetic, corticosteroid), carpal tunnel). And yes, you can report drug supply separately, as it is not bundled into the code.

Some of the drugs your provider might use during a 20526 injection include, but are not limited to:

• J0702 (Injection, betamethasone acetate 3 mg and betamethasone sodium phosphate 3 mg).
• J1020 (Injection, methylprednisolone acetate, 20 mg) through J1040 (…80 mg).
• J1094 (Injection, dexamethasone acetate, 1 mg)
• J1100 (Injection, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, 1 mg)
• J1700 (Injection, hydrocortisone acetate, up to 25 mg)
• J1710 (Injection, hydrocortisone sodium phosphate, up to 50 mg)
• J1720 (Injection, hydrocortisone sodium succinate, up to 100 mg)
• J2920 (Injection, methylprednisolone sodium succinate, up to 40 mg) and J2930 (… up to 125 mg)
• J3301 (Injection, triamcinolone acetonide, not otherwise specified, 10 mg)
• J3302 (Injection, triamcinolone diacetate, per 5 mg)
• J3303 (Injection, triamcinolone hexacetonide, per 5 mg).

Remember: Always code to the notes, and be sure you have proof of these drugs’ use before reporting them for 20526. 

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