tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2009 Issue 5

READER QUESTIONS: ID Anesthesia Type Before Choosing Code

Question: A 34-year-old patient with a dislocated left shoulder reports to the ED. The ED physician sedates the patient to the point that he is relaxed but still conscious, then manipulates the shoulder back into place. Can we report 23655? Illinois SubscriberAnswer: No, you should instead report 23650 (Closed treatment of shoulder dislocation, with manipulation; without anesthesia) for the reduction service. Code 23655 (- requiring anesthesia) is only for general anesthesia, not conscious sedation. While there is no universal definition for the term, general anesthesia typically means a state of total unconsciousness resulting from general anesthetic drugs. The patient...

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