How To Use CPT Code 01991

cpt 01991 describes the anesthesia services provided by a healthcare professional for diagnostic or therapeutic nerve blocks and injections, when the block or injection is performed by a different physician or qualified healthcare professional. This article will cover the description, procedure, qualifying circumstances, appropriate usage, documentation requirements, billing guidelines, historical information, and examples of cpt 01991.

1. What is cpt 01991?

cpt 01991 is used to describe the anesthesia services provided by a healthcare professional for diagnostic or therapeutic nerve blocks and injections. This code is used when the block or injection is performed by a different physician or qualified healthcare professional. It is important to note that cpt 01991 should not be used when the patient is in the prone position, or lying flat.

2. Official Description

The official description of cpt 01991 is: ‘Anesthesia for diagnostic or therapeutic nerve blocks and injections (when block or injection is performed by a different physician or other qualified health care professional); other than the prone position.’

3. Procedure

1. The anesthesia provider performs a preoperative evaluation of the patient.
2. The anesthesia provider induces the patient and monitors them during the diagnostic or therapeutic nerve block or injection performed by a different physician or qualified healthcare professional.
3. The anesthesia provider administers any necessary medications and utilizes standard monitoring services such as ECG, temperature, blood pressure, oximetry, capnography, and mass spectrometry.
4. The anesthesia provider documents the types and amounts of medications administered, all forms of monitoring used, patient responses, and the start and stop times of anesthesia care.
5. Following the procedure, the anesthesia provider oversees the patient’s transfer to postanesthesia care.

4. Qualifying circumstances

cpt 01991 is used when the anesthesia services are provided for diagnostic or therapeutic nerve blocks and injections performed by a different physician or qualified healthcare professional. It is important to note that this code should not be used when the patient is in the prone position. The anesthesia provider must perform a preoperative evaluation of the patient and administer anesthesia during the procedure, utilizing standard monitoring services.

5. When to use cpt code 01991

cpt 01991 should be used when the anesthesia services are provided for diagnostic or therapeutic nerve blocks and injections performed by a different physician or qualified healthcare professional. It is important to ensure that the patient is not in the prone position during the procedure. If the patient is in the prone position, a different anesthesia code should be used.

6. Documentation requirements

To support a claim for cpt 01991, the anesthesia provider must document the following information:

• Preoperative evaluation of the patient
• Types and amounts of medications administered
• All forms of monitoring used
• Patient responses
• Start and stop times of anesthesia care

7. Billing guidelines

When billing for cpt 01991, it is important to ensure that the anesthesia services are provided for diagnostic or therapeutic nerve blocks and injections performed by a different physician or qualified healthcare professional. This code should not be reported if the patient is in the prone position. It is also important to follow the specific billing guidelines of the payer and append the appropriate HCPCS modifiers if required.

8. Historical information

cpt 01991 was added to the Current Procedural Terminology system on January 1, 2003. The code has undergone a change in description on January 1, 2013, to clarify that the block or injection should be performed by a different provider.

9. Examples

1. An anesthesia provider administering anesthesia for a diagnostic nerve block performed by a different physician.
2. An anesthesia provider providing anesthesia services for a therapeutic injection performed by a qualified healthcare professional.
3. An anesthesia provider monitoring a patient during a diagnostic nerve block performed by a different physician.
4. An anesthesia provider administering anesthesia for a therapeutic injection performed by a different physician.
5. An anesthesia provider overseeing a patient’s transfer to postanesthesia care following a diagnostic nerve block performed by a different physician.
6. An anesthesia provider monitoring a patient during a therapeutic injection performed by a qualified healthcare professional.
7. An anesthesia provider administering anesthesia for a diagnostic nerve block performed by a different qualified healthcare professional.
8. An anesthesia provider providing anesthesia services for a therapeutic injection performed by a different qualified healthcare professional.
9. An anesthesia provider monitoring a patient during a diagnostic nerve block performed by a different qualified healthcare professional.
10. An anesthesia provider administering anesthesia for a therapeutic injection performed by a different qualified healthcare professional.