You Be the Coder:
Report 62361-62362 for Pain Pumps
Published on Sat Feb 01, 2003
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Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.
Question: Should we report the new continuous infusion nerve block codes when inserting a pain pump postoperatively for pain management?
New Hampshire Subscriber
Answer: You should not use the new codes 64416 (Injection, anesthetic agent; brachial plexus, continuous infusion by catheter [including catheter placement] including daily management for anesthetic agent administration), 64446 (Injection, anesthetic agent; sciatic nerve, continuous infusion by catheter [including catheter placement], including daily management for anesthetic agent administration) and 64448 (Injection, anesthetic agent; femoral nerve, continuous infusion by catheter [including catheter placement] including daily management for anesthetic agent administration) for pain pump insertion. Instead, report these codes for pain management infusions through a catheter, either intermittently bolused or connected to an administration pump that delivers the medication.
If the physician implants a permanent pain pump, report 62361 (Implantation or replacement of device for intrathecal or epidural drug infusion; non-programmable pump) or 62362 (... programmable pump, including preparation of pump, with or without programming), depending on the type of pump. | |