How To Use CPT Code 01844

cpt 01844 describes the anesthesia services provided for a patient undergoing a vascular shunt procedure or shunt revision of any type, such as for dialysis. This article will cover the description, procedure, qualifying circumstances, appropriate usage, documentation requirements, billing guidelines, historical information, and examples of cpt 01844.

1. What is cpt 01844?

cpt 01844 is used to describe the anesthesia services provided by an anesthesia provider for a patient undergoing a vascular shunt procedure or shunt revision of any type, including dialysis. The anesthesia provider performs a pre-operative evaluation of the patient, induces anesthesia, and monitors the patient during the procedure. They also document the medications administered, monitoring used, patient responses, and the start and stop times of anesthesia care. After the procedure, the anesthesia provider oversees the patient’s transfer to post-anesthesia care.

2. Official Description

The official description of cpt 01844 is: ‘Anesthesia for vascular shunt, or shunt revision, any type (eg, dialysis).’

3. Procedure

The anesthesia provider begins by performing a pre-operative evaluation of the patient. They then induce anesthesia and monitor the patient during the vascular shunt procedure or shunt revision. The anesthesia provider documents the medications administered, monitoring used, patient responses, and the start and stop times of anesthesia care. After the procedure, the anesthesia provider oversees the patient’s transfer to post-anesthesia care.

4. Qualifying circumstances

cpt 01844 is used for patients undergoing a vascular shunt procedure or shunt revision of any type, such as for dialysis. The anesthesia services are provided by an anesthesia provider, which can include a qualified anesthesiologist, doctor of medicine or osteopathy, dentist, oral surgeon, podiatrist, certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), or anesthesiologist assistant (AA). The anesthesia provider performs a pre-operative evaluation, induces anesthesia, monitors the patient during the procedure, and oversees the patient’s transfer to post-anesthesia care.

5. When to use cpt code 01844

cpt 01844 should be used when an anesthesia provider is providing anesthesia services for a patient undergoing a vascular shunt procedure or shunt revision of any type, such as for dialysis. It is important to ensure that the anesthesia provider is qualified to administer anesthesia under state law and that they are immediately available if needed during the procedure.

6. Documentation requirements

To support a claim for cpt 01844, the anesthesia provider must document the following information:

• Pre-operative evaluation of the patient
• Medications administered during anesthesia
• Monitoring used during anesthesia
• Patient responses during anesthesia
• Start and stop times of anesthesia care
• Transfer of the patient to post-anesthesia care

7. Billing guidelines

When billing for cpt 01844, ensure that the anesthesia services are provided by a qualified anesthesia provider and that the documentation requirements are met. It is important to follow the specific billing guidelines of the payer, including any required modifiers or additional documentation. If multiple anesthesia services are provided for the same patient during the same encounter, assign the most complex anesthesia procedure code with the highest base unit value. Add the anesthesia time for all procedures combined and divide it by the time unit increment used by the payer to determine the total units to bill on the claim form.

8. Historical information

cpt 01844 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

1. An anesthesia provider administering anesthesia for a patient undergoing a vascular shunt procedure for dialysis.
2. An anesthesia provider providing anesthesia services for a patient undergoing a shunt revision for a vascular shunt.
3. An anesthesia provider monitoring a patient during a vascular shunt procedure for dialysis.
4. An anesthesia provider overseeing the transfer of a patient to post-anesthesia care after a shunt revision procedure.
5. An anesthesia provider documenting the medications administered and patient responses during a vascular shunt procedure.
6. An anesthesia provider performing a pre-operative evaluation of a patient before a shunt revision procedure.
7. An anesthesia provider inducing anesthesia for a patient undergoing a vascular shunt procedure.
8. An anesthesia provider using capnography to monitor the concentration of carbon dioxide in a patient’s exhaled breath during a shunt revision procedure.
9. An anesthesia provider administering fluids and monitoring the patient’s blood pressure during a vascular shunt procedure.
10. An anesthesia provider documenting the start and stop times of anesthesia care for a patient undergoing a shunt revision procedure.