How To Use CPT Code 00540

cpt 00540 describes the anesthesia services provided by a healthcare professional during thoracotomy procedures involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum. This article will cover the description, procedure, qualifying circumstances, appropriate usage, documentation requirements, billing guidelines, historical information, and examples of cpt 00540.

1. What is cpt 00540?

cpt 00540 can be used to describe the anesthesia services provided by a healthcare professional during thoracotomy procedures involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum. This code is used when the anesthesia provider performs anesthesia for surgical treatment or investigation of structures within the chest.

2. Official Description

The official description of cpt 00540 is: ‘Anesthesia for thoracotomy procedures involving lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum (including surgical thoracoscopy); not otherwise specified.’

3. Procedure

1. The anesthesia provider performs a pre-operative evaluation of the patient.
2. The anesthesia provider induces the patient and monitors the patient during the thoracotomy procedures involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum.
3. The anesthesia provider notes any types and amounts of medications administered, all forms of monitoring used, patient responses, and the start and stop times of anesthesia care.
4. Following the procedure, the anesthesia provider oversees the patient’s transfer to post-anesthesia care.

4. Qualifying circumstances

Patients eligible to receive cpt 00540 services are those undergoing thoracotomy procedures involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum. The anesthesia provider must perform anesthesia for these procedures, which involve opening the chest for surgical treatment or investigation of structures within the chest.

5. When to use cpt code 00540

cpt 00540 should be used when the anesthesia provider performs anesthesia for thoracotomy procedures involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum. This code is used when the specific procedure is not otherwise specified by another anesthesia code.

6. Documentation requirements

To support a claim for cpt 00540, the anesthesia provider must document the following information:

• Pre-operative evaluation of the patient
• Types and amounts of medications administered
• Forms of monitoring used
• Patient responses
• Start and stop times of anesthesia care

7. Billing guidelines

When billing for cpt 00540, ensure that the anesthesia provider performs anesthesia for thoracotomy procedures involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum. This code should be used when the specific procedure is not otherwise specified by another anesthesia code. Follow the appropriate billing guidelines for anesthesia services, including the use of modifiers if required.

8. Historical information

cpt 00540 was added to the Current Procedural Terminology system on January 1, 1990. It was later added to the Inpatient Only (IPO) list for Medicare in 2017.

9. Examples

1. An anesthesia provider performing anesthesia for a patient undergoing a thoracotomy procedure to investigate structures within the chest.
2. An anesthesia provider administering anesthesia for a patient undergoing a thoracotomy procedure for surgical treatment of the lungs.
3. An anesthesia provider monitoring a patient during a thoracotomy procedure involving the pleura.
4. An anesthesia provider overseeing the transfer of a patient to post-anesthesia care following a thoracotomy procedure involving the diaphragm.
5. An anesthesia provider documenting the start and stop times of anesthesia care during a thoracotomy procedure involving the mediastinum.
6. An anesthesia provider noting the patient’s responses to anesthesia during a thoracotomy procedure involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum.
7. An anesthesia provider administering medications during a thoracotomy procedure involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum.
8. An anesthesia provider using various forms of monitoring during a thoracotomy procedure involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum.
9. An anesthesia provider performing a pre-operative evaluation of a patient undergoing a thoracotomy procedure involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum.
10. An anesthesia provider following the appropriate billing guidelines for cpt 00540 when submitting a claim for anesthesia services during a thoracotomy procedure.