mhart
New
Checking if anyone has read any news concerning anesthesiologist billing of lines and blocks. I came across this Billing and Compliance Alert that offers clarification on the ASA's 2007 rule regarding the billing of anesthesia time in conjunction with an invasive line or post-op pain The alert states: "In a March 17, 2011 letter to healthcare attorney David Vaughn, the AMA (in consultation with the ASA) advised that there are two circumstances in which time spent placing invasive lines or post-op pain blocks while in the OR, but prior to induction of the primary anesthetic, would NOT need to be deducted from total anesthesia time. Those circumstances are as follows:
- Where a medically directing anesthesiologist places the line or post-op pain block, the
time does not need to be deducted since the CRNA is providing ongoing anesthesia service
during such placement.
- Where an anesthesiologist is providing ongoing anesthesia care, and one of his/her
partners (a separate anesthesiologist) comes into the OR only to place the line or post-op pain block, no anesthesia time needs to be deducted since the patient has uninterrupted anesthesia care from the anesthesiologist who is handling the case. (The AMA noted that it expected such a case involving 2 anesthesiologists to be rare.)"
Does this now mean that a directing anesthesiologist can bill for a post-op pain block (after anesthesia care begins but before induction) without deducting time spent on the block?
Any help with understanding this alert would be appreciated!
- Where a medically directing anesthesiologist places the line or post-op pain block, the
time does not need to be deducted since the CRNA is providing ongoing anesthesia service
during such placement.
- Where an anesthesiologist is providing ongoing anesthesia care, and one of his/her
partners (a separate anesthesiologist) comes into the OR only to place the line or post-op pain block, no anesthesia time needs to be deducted since the patient has uninterrupted anesthesia care from the anesthesiologist who is handling the case. (The AMA noted that it expected such a case involving 2 anesthesiologists to be rare.)"
Does this now mean that a directing anesthesiologist can bill for a post-op pain block (after anesthesia care begins but before induction) without deducting time spent on the block?
Any help with understanding this alert would be appreciated!