UHC Bundles Anesthesia for Chronic Pain Injections Clarification: Chronic Pain CPT Code Procedure Descriptions
By: Bellinger P. Moody, RHIA, CPC, CCP, CPC-I
Executive Vice President of Compliance

February 11, 2011

I have received a number of requests from Medac Clients asking for further clarification as well as the descriptions of the procedure codes listed in my alert sent out yesterday – “United Healthcare Bundles Anesthesia for Pain Injections”. First and foremost, let me clarify that the intent of this alert was to inform you that you may not submit to UHC an anesthesia claim where the main surgical procedure is nothing more than a pain injection performed by a pain management physician. You may still bill UHC for post-op pain procedures, as well as the rounding on such procedures.  

The Chronic Pain CPT procedure descriptions listed in yesterday’s alert are as follows:

• 62310, 62311 – Respectively: cervical ESI, lumbar ESI
• 62318, 62319 – Respectively: cervical epidural/subarachnoid continuous catheter injection, lumbar epidural/subarachnoid continuous catheter injection64400 – Trigeminal nerve block
• 64402 – Facial nerve block
• 64405 – Greater occipital nerve block
• 64408 – Vagus nerve block
• 64410 – Phrenic nerve block
• 64412 – Spinal accessory nerve block
• 64413 – Cervical plexus nerve block
• 64415 – Brachial plexus nerve block, single
• 64416 – Brachial plexus nerve block, catheter
• 64417 – Axillary nerve block
• 64418 – Suprascapular nerve block
• 64420 – Intercostal nerve block, single
• 64421 – Intercostal nerve block, multiple, regional block
• 64425 – Ilioinguinal nerve block
• 64430 – Pudendal nerve block
• 64435 – Paracevical (uterine) nerve block
• 64445 – Sciatic nerve block, single
• 64446 – Sciatic nerve block, catheter
• 64447 – Femoral nerve block, single
• 64448 – Femoral nerve block, catheter
• 64449 – Lumbar plexus nerve block
• 64450 – other peripheral nerve block
• 64505 – Sphenopalatine ganglion block
• 64508 – Carotid sinus block
• 64510 – Stellate ganglion block
• 64517 – Superior hypogastric plexus block
• 64520 – Paravertebral sympathetic block, lumbar or thoracic
• 64530 – Celiac plexus block
• 64479 – Selective nerve root block (transforaminal) cervical or thoracic, single level
• 64480 – additional levels
• 64483 – Selective nerve root block (transforaminal) lumbar or sacral, single level
• 64484 – additional levels
• 64490 – Facet block, cervical or thoracic, single level
• 64491 – Facet block, cervical or thoracic, second level
• 64492 – Facet block, cervical or thoracic, three or more levels
• 64493 – Facet block, lumbar or sacral, single level
• 64494 – Facet block, lumbar or sacral, second level
• 64495 – Facet block, lumbar or sacral, three or more levels

The information presented herein reflects general information that is current as of the date it was first published.  In light of changes that may occur in the health care regulatory and compliance environments, the author's presentation of this information might become outdated.  Please check with your individual legal and/or compliance advisor(s) prior to taking any significant actions based upon the information and advice presented.