Services that are included in Anesthesia procedures
Anesthesia HCPCS/CPT codes include all services integral to the anesthesia procedure such as preparation, monitoring, intra-operative care, and post-operative care until the patient is released by the anesthesia practitioner to the care of another physician. Examples of integral services include, but are not limited to, the following:
Transporting, positioning, prepping, draping of the patient for satisfactory anesthesia induction/surgical procedures.
Placement of external devices including, but not limited to, those for cardiac monitoring, oximetry, capnography, temperature monitoring, EEG, CNS evoked responses (e.g., BSER), Doppler flow.
Placement of peripheral intravenous lines for fluid and medication administration.
Placement of airway (e.g., endotracheal tube, orotracheal tube).
Laryngoscopy (direct or endoscopic) for placement of airway (e.g., endotracheal tube).
Placement of naso-gastric or oro-gastric tube.
Intra-operative interpretation of monitored functions (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, respirations, oximetry, capnography, temperature, EEG, BSER, Doppler flow, CNS pressure).
Interpretation of laboratory determinations (e.g., arterial blood gases such as pH, pO2 , pCO2, bicarbonate, CBC, blood chemistries, lactate) by the anesthesiologist/CRNA.
Nerve stimulation for determination of level of paralysis or localization of nerve(s). (Codes for EMG services are for diagnostic purposes for nerve dysfunction. To report these codes a complete diagnostic report must be present in the medical record.)
Insertion of urinary bladder catheter.
Blood sample procurement through existing lines or requiring venipuncture or arterial puncture.
See also ‘CPT codes that are integral to an anesthesia service’
