Wiki T12 thoracic vs L1 lumbar coding

[574coding]

Hello,
How do all you pain management coders code if the procedure was at the T12 - L1 site?

Single injections
If it is a ESI, would you use the Thoracic code of 62321?
If it is a TESI would you use the thoracic code of 64479?

What if the TESI was at the T12-L1 and L1-L2?

If it is a facet or ablation at the T12 - L1 would you use the lumbar codes of 64493 or Thoracic 64635?
What if the levels were T12-L1, L1-L2?

We have a different opinion in our office.
Thank you for your help!

 

[whitey86]

School teaches to use thoracic but insurance recognizes as lumbar.

 

[amyjph]

There is an instruction in the CPT book for when in crosses that level on what to use. For example, look at the parenthetical after the 64479 area. For TFESI at T12-L1 use 64479. I would check CPT guidelines at the beginning of the section as well as after the code blocks. There are also CPT Asst. articles if I remember correctly.