How To Use CPT Code 01937

cpt 01937 describes the anesthesia services provided by a healthcare professional during percutaneous image-guided injection, drainage, or aspiration procedures on the cervical or thoracic spine or spinal cord. This article will cover the description, procedure, qualifying circumstances, appropriate usage, documentation requirements, billing guidelines, historical information, and examples of cpt 01937.

1. What is cpt 01937?

cpt 01937 is used to describe the anesthesia services provided by a healthcare professional during percutaneous image-guided injection, drainage, or aspiration procedures on the cervical or thoracic spine or spinal cord. This code is used when the anesthesia provider performs a pre-operative evaluation of the patient, induces the patient, monitors the patient during the procedure, notes any medications administered, and oversees the patient’s transfer to post-anesthesia care.

2. Official Description

The official description of cpt 01937 is: ‘Anesthesia for percutaneous image-guided injection, drainage or aspiration procedures on the spine or spinal cord; cervical or thoracic.’

3. Procedure

The anesthesia provider performs a pre-operative evaluation of the patient. They then induce the patient and monitor them during the percutaneous image-guided injection, drainage, or aspiration procedures on the cervical or thoracic spine or spinal cord. The anesthesia provider notes any medications administered, all forms of monitoring used, patient responses, and the start and stop times of anesthesia care. Following the procedure, the anesthesia provider oversees the patient’s transfer to post-anesthesia care.

4. Qualifying circumstances

Patients eligible to receive cpt 01937 services are those undergoing percutaneous image-guided injection, drainage, or aspiration procedures on the cervical or thoracic spine or spinal cord. The anesthesia provider must perform a pre-operative evaluation of the patient and provide anesthesia care during the procedure. The anesthesia services may include the administration of fluids and/or blood as necessary and standard monitoring services such as ECG, temperature, blood pressure, oximetry, capnography, and mass spectrometry.

5. When to use cpt code 01937

cpt 01937 should be used when a healthcare professional provides anesthesia services during percutaneous image-guided injection, drainage, or aspiration procedures on the cervical or thoracic spine or spinal cord. This code should be used for each procedure performed on an individual patient.

6. Documentation requirements

To support a claim for cpt 01937, the anesthesia provider must document the following information:

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

7. Billing guidelines

When billing for cpt 01937, ensure that the anesthesia provider performs a pre-operative evaluation of the patient and provides anesthesia care during the percutaneous image-guided injection, drainage, or aspiration procedures on the cervical or thoracic spine or spinal cord. Follow the appropriate billing guidelines for anesthesia services, including the use of anesthesia time and any necessary modifiers.

8. Historical information

cpt 01937 was added to the Current Procedural Terminology system on January 1, 2022. There have been no updates to the code since its addition.

9. Examples

1. An anesthesia provider performing anesthesia services during a percutaneous image-guided injection procedure on the cervical spine.
2. An anesthesia provider providing anesthesia care during a percutaneous image-guided drainage procedure on the thoracic spine.
3. An anesthesia provider administering anesthesia during a percutaneous image-guided aspiration procedure on the cervical spine.
4. An anesthesia provider monitoring a patient during a percutaneous image-guided injection procedure on the thoracic spine.
5. An anesthesia provider overseeing the transfer of a patient to post-anesthesia care following a percutaneous image-guided drainage procedure on the cervical spine.
6. An anesthesia provider documenting the start and stop times of anesthesia care during a percutaneous image-guided aspiration procedure on the thoracic spine.
7. An anesthesia provider noting the types and amounts of medications administered during a percutaneous image-guided injection procedure on the cervical spine.
8. An anesthesia provider using standard monitoring services, such as ECG and oximetry, during a percutaneous image-guided drainage procedure on the thoracic spine.
9. An anesthesia provider performing a pre-operative evaluation of a patient prior to a percutaneous image-guided aspiration procedure on the cervical spine.
10. An anesthesia provider providing anesthesia care during a percutaneous image-guided injection procedure on the thoracic spine.