tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2001 Issue 11

Reader Question: Digital Block Is Included

Question: Our physician sutured a patient's finger and administered a digital block for pain relief. Can I assign 64450 in addition to the suture repair code? Kentucky Subscriber  Answer: If the only procedure performed was the digital block, 64450 (injection, anesthetic agent; other peripheral nerve or branch) would be reported. You indicate, however, that a suture repair was completed. Digital blocks are not reported separately from a surgical procedure such as laceration repair to the finger. When anesthesia is provided for a surgical procedure, CPT guidelines state that "local infiltration, metacarpal/digital block, or topical anesthesia " is included...

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