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ASC Charges – Epidural injections

I work for an orthopedic outpatient surgery center. One of our physician’s is wondering about billing for epidural steroid injections to the facility. If a bilateral epi is done (64483), do we bill 64483 twice for the facility or would there just be one bulk facility fee?
We were also wondering if multiple levels are injected, are both 64483 and 64484 reimbursable through the facility? Any input is greatly appreciated.

Sally Cookman, CPC, COSC

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Laminectomies for epidural lipomatosis

Hello. My doctor did bilateral L5-S1 lami for removal of epidural lipomatosis, and left L1-L4 lamis for decompression of lumbar stenosis and removal of epidural lipomatosis. The decompression was due to thickened ligament between L1-L5, in addition to the the lipomatosis.
I know I can only code 1 unit of 63267, but can I also code 63047/63048-59 for the stenosis due to thickened ligament?
From reading past replies I think I can, but would appreciate input.

Thanks for any help.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Anesthesia and Epidural Blood Patches

One of our patients had an epidural blood patch done after her C-section. The headache did not clear up right away and the patient stayed in the hospital for two days after the blood patch. Our anesthesiologists did pain rounds on this patient every day after her blood patch until she was discharged from the hospital. Can I charge for the subsequent pain management days after the blood patch? If so, what CPT code should I use?

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

OB Epidural

Does anyone know of any articles stating that an RN cannot pull an OB Epidural? We have an insurance company UHC that is denying claims for the RN pulling the epidural. We normally bill the epidural when the anesthesiologist places the epidural until the baby is born. UHC states what if the epidural needs to run after that for a closing of the episiotomy or something else. We have documentation in the chart when the nurse pulls the epidural and the time, but they want the dr.

What do other practices do? Or anyone else having this problem?

Alicia, CPC
Wisconsin

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Epidural Lysis

My physician performed an Epidural Lysis and performed three injections over the course of three days. It looks like CPT code 62263 is the correct code for the percutaneous epidural adhesion. I am just not sure if I can code for the epidural injection via indwelling catheter the following 2 days. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Transforaminal Epidural Steroid injection

How would you code the following? Any input would be greatful!

Post-op diagnosis: Lumbar Radiculitis
Procedure Performed: Flouroscopic Guidance, Bilateral Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection
*
Description of Procedure;
Informed consent was obtained. Standard monitors were applied. The patient was reexamined, turned into the prone position and sterilely prepped and draped. Skin wheals were made with a total of 5 cc 1% lidocaine. Using biplanar fluoroscopic guidance a 22 guage 5 inch quincke block needle was advanced at the 6 O’clock position underneath the pedicles at L4 Bilateral, L5 Bilateral and S1 Bilateral. Once the needle tip was felt to be in the appropriate position, the xray beam was turned to the lateral projection to demonstrate the needle tip over the neuroforamen. After negative aspiration, 0.2 cc’s of Isovue-300 contrast media was injected at each level to demonstrate proper epidural/selective nerve root spread without any indication of intravascular or subarachnoid uptake. Subsequently, and again after negative aspiration at each level, 0.5cc of 6 mg Betamethasone and 0.3 cc’s of 1% preservative free Lidocaine was injected at each level. No paresthesia was noted with final position and contrast provacation was negative. The patient tolerated the procedure well. A detailed report was given to the receiving nurse.
*
Additional Comments:
Specimens Removed: None
Complications: None
Estimated Blood Loss: None
Findings: The patient was reevaluated immediately post-procedure and then again after 10 minutes.
Fluoro:30 secs
*
PLAN:
The patient is to follow up in the office in 2 weeks.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Reduced Labor Epidural

I have a scenario that was presented to me. The anesthesiologist begins the process of placing the Epidural. The patient states that she feels the need to push, she is laid down and delivers the baby. Since the epidural was never placed how should this be coded? I know it should be the 01967, but can we bill this with a -52 modifier for Reduced Services since the epidural was never actually placed?

Thanks

Medical Billing and Coding Forum