will peroperative assement inculsive in anesthesia billing? Citations:

Preoperative assessment is included in the payment for the anesthesia services, per the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI).

HCPCS/CPT® codes include all services usually performed as part of the procedure as a standard of medical/surgical practice.  A physician should not separately report these services simply because HCPCS/CPT® codes exist for them.

1. The anesthesia care package consists of preoperative evaluation, standard preparation and monitoring services, administration of anesthesia, and post- anesthesia recovery care. Preoperative evaluation includes a sufficient history and physical examination so that the risk of adverse reactions can be minimized, alternative approaches to anesthesia planned, and all questions answered.

2. Anesthesia services include, but are not limited to, preoperative evaluation of the patient, administration of anesthetic, other medications, blood, and fluids, monitoring of physiological parameters, and other supportive services.

3. It is standard medical practice for an anesthesia practitioner to perform a patient examination and evaluation prior to surgery.  This is considered part of the anesthesia service and is included in the base unit of the anesthesia code.

The evaluation and examination are not reported in the anesthesia time.  If surgery is canceled, subsequent to the preoperative evaluation, payment may be allowed to the anesthesiologist for an evaluation and management service and the appropriate E&M code (usually a consultation code) may be reported.  (A non-medically directed CRNA may also report an E&M code under these circumstances if permitted by state law.)

Anesthesia cpt code procedure qualifiying factor and description units.

Procedure Codes and Modifiers

Anesthesia providers are required to utilize the appropriate anesthesia code identified in the current Relative Value Guide published by the American Society of Anesthesiologists. Time in attendance should be billed by listingtotal minutes

HP will calculate total units by dividing the total minutes (reported in block 24G) by 15, rounding up to the next whole number, and adding the time units to the auto-loaded base unit values. The base unit values are derived from the ASARVG for CPT-4 anesthesia codes. 

Of anesthesia time in block 24G of the CMS-1500 claim form. Type of service “7” should be used for billing anesthesia codes (00100- 01997). The (837) Institutional electronic claim and the paper claim have been modified to accept up to four Procedure Code Modifiers. Effective

October 1, 2004 to bill for code 90784, bill the first line item with the code and one unit. Bill the second line item with code 90784 with modifier 76 (repeat procedure) and 3 units.

The number of qualifying factor units is multiplied by the price allowed for anesthesia services. For more information regarding qualifying factors, see the next section of this manual.

Qualifying Factors

Beginning June 14, 2002, qualifying factors will be reimbursable. Qualifying factors allow for anesthesia services provided under complicated situations depending on irregular factors (ex: abnormal risk factors, significant operative conditions). The qualifying procedures would be reported in conjunction with the anesthesia procedure code on a separate line item using 1 unit of service.

The qualifying procedure codes are indicated below.

Procedure Code Description Units

99100 Anesthesia for recipient with farthest ages, over seventy and under one year 1

99116 Complication of anesthesia by utilization of total body hypothermia 1

99135 Complication of anesthesia by utilization of controlled hypotension 1

99140 Complication of anesthesia by emergency conditions 1

Anesthesia claim filing limit and copayment for anesthesia services

Time Limit for Filing Claims

Medicaid requires all claims for Anesthesiologists, CRNAs and AAs to be filed within one year of the date of service. Refer to Section 5.1.4, Filing Limits, for more information regarding timely filing limits and exceptions.

Diagnosis Codes

The International Classification of Diseases - 9th Revision - Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) manual lists required diagnosis codes. These manuals may be obtained by contacting the American Medical Association,

P.O. Box 10950, Chicago, IL 60610.

NOTE:

ICD-9 diagnosis codes must be listed to the highest number of digits possible (3, 4, or 5 digits). Do not use decimal points in the diagnosis code field

Cost Sharing (Copayment)

Copayment amount does not apply to services provided by Anesthesiologists, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists or Anesthesiology Assistants.