How To Use CPT Code 00752

cpt 00752 describes the anesthesia services provided for hernia repairs in the upper abdomen, including lumbar and ventral (incisional) hernias and/or wound dehiscence. This article will cover the description, procedure, qualifying circumstances, appropriate usage, documentation requirements, billing guidelines, historical information, and examples of cpt 00752.

1. What is cpt 00752?

cpt 00752 is used to describe the anesthesia services provided for hernia repairs in the upper abdomen. This includes lumbar and ventral (incisional) hernias and/or wound dehiscence. The anesthesia provider performs a pre-operative evaluation of the patient, induces anesthesia, and monitors the patient during the procedure. They also oversee the patient’s transfer to post-anesthesia care. The anesthesia services represented by cpt codes 00100 to 01999 include a pre- and post-operative visit, anesthesia care during the procedure, administration of fluids and/or blood if necessary, and standard monitoring services such as ECG, temperature, blood pressure, oximetry, capnography, and mass spectrometry.

2. Official Description

The official description of cpt code 00752 is: ‘Anesthesia for hernia repairs in upper abdomen; lumbar and ventral (incisional) hernias and/or wound dehiscence.’

3. Procedure

The anesthesia provider performs the following steps during the procedure:

1. Pre-operative evaluation of the patient
2. Induction of anesthesia
3. Monitoring the patient during the hernia repair in the upper abdomen
4. Noting types and amounts of medications administered
5. Documenting all forms of monitoring used
6. Recording patient responses
7. Documenting start and stop times of anesthesia care
8. Overseeing the patient’s transfer to post-anesthesia care

4. Qualifying circumstances

cpt 00752 is used for hernia repairs in the upper abdomen, including lumbar and ventral (incisional) hernias and/or wound dehiscence. A hernia occurs when an organ protrudes through the wall of the structure that normally contains it. A lumbar hernia occurs when the lumbar disk slips out of its normal alignment, while a ventral or incisional hernia occurs when the abdominal muscle protrudes through an abdominal opening, typically at a surgical incision site. The anesthesia provider must perform anesthesia services for these specific hernia repairs to use cpt 00752.

5. When to use cpt code 00752

cpt code 00752 should be used when the anesthesia provider performs anesthesia services for hernia repairs in the upper abdomen, including lumbar and ventral (incisional) hernias and/or wound dehiscence. It is important to ensure that the anesthesia provider’s services align with the specific procedures described by cpt 00752. If the anesthesia services provided do not match the description of cpt 00752, a different anesthesia code should be used.

6. Documentation requirements

To support a claim for cpt 00752, 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
• Transfer of the patient to post-anesthesia care

7. Billing guidelines

When billing for cpt 00752, ensure that the anesthesia services provided align with the specific procedures described by the code. It is important to follow the guidelines set by the payer regarding anesthesia time and unit calculation. Anesthesia time starts when the anesthesia provider prepares the patient for anesthesia induction in the operating room or procedure room and ends when the anesthesia provider no longer renders services to the patient or another provider assumes responsibility for the patient’s postoperative care. The anesthesia provider should document the total anesthesia time in the patient’s anesthesia medical record and report the total units of time on the claim form. Qualifying circumstances codes may be assigned to complex anesthesia cases. Appropriate HCPCS modifiers should be appended to the anesthesia codes for Medicare and other payers requiring them to describe anesthesia services.

8. Historical information

cpt 00752 was added to the Current Procedural Terminology system on January 1, 1990. There have been no updates to the code since its addition.

9. Examples

Here are some examples of cases in which cpt 00752 should be billed:

1. An anesthesia provider performs anesthesia services for a patient undergoing a hernia repair in the upper abdomen.
2. An anesthesia provider administers anesthesia to a patient undergoing a lumbar hernia repair.
3. An anesthesia provider monitors a patient during a ventral (incisional) hernia repair.
4. An anesthesia provider provides anesthesia services for a patient with wound dehiscence undergoing a hernia repair.
5. An anesthesia provider oversees the transfer of a patient to post-anesthesia care following a hernia repair in the upper abdomen.