Acute Post-Operative Pain Management

by  Find-A-Code™
Jan 4th, 2018

CPT codes 62320, 62322 should be used when the analgesia is delivered by a single injection.

These codes should only be used when the catheter or injection is not used for administration of anesthesia during the operative procedure. Modifier 59 should be used when billing these services to indicate that the catheter or injection was a separate procedure from the surgical anesthesia care. 

In accordance with NCCI policy and edits, the epidural catheter insertion (CPT codes 62324 or 62326) includes the setup and start of the infusion. Therefore, the daily management of epidural or subarachnoid drug administration (CPT code 01996) should not be billed for the same day as the catheter insertion. 

The time utilized for a single injection (CPT codes 62320 and 62322) or the insertion of the epidural catheter (CPT codes 62324 and 62326) should not be included in the time reported for the anesthesia care for the surgical procedure. The catheter insertion is considered a surgical procedure and should be coded with the number of services of one (1). 

Do not code for the administration of any drug or other diagnostic substances used when inserting the catheter or performing the injection procedure. 

The daily management of epidural or subarachnoid drug administration (CPT code 01996) is a daily service and should only be coded with a number of services (NOS) of one (1) for each day billed. Post-operative pain management services should be reported in the inpatient hospital setting (21) only.