Name of Manual - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

Coding Policies and Guidelines (Anesthesia)
Epidural Anesthesia for
Labor and Delivery
11-6
Insertion Only
When a provider performs the insertion of an epidural catheter for
continuous analgesia, but does not participate in the ongoing
management and monitoring of the epidural analgesia for labor
and delivery, the claim should be for the insertion service only
(code 62319). Time units are not appropriate for code 62319, and
anesthesia modifiers are not required.
Insertion and Management
When a provider inserts the epidural catheter and participates in
ongoing management and monitoring of the patient's epidural
analgesia, the anesthesia code 01967 and (if applicable) 01968
should be reported for the complete service using the appropriate
anesthesia modifier, with anesthesia time units for actual face-toface
time. It would not be appropriate to report 62319 for the
insertion of the catheter in addition to the epidural management.
99140
It is also not appropriate to bill the emergency qualifying
circumstance code (99140) with normal deliveries. Emergency
code 99140 applies only to cases where a “delay in treatment
would result in an increased risk to life or body part,” according to
the ASA Relative Value Guide. Do not confuse an inconvenient
case with emergencies, such as a surgery that takes place on the
weekend or after normal business hours.
Management Only
In many cases, a physician will insert the epidural catheter, but a
CRNA is responsible for the ongoing management and monitoring
of the patient’s epidural analgesia. When this is the case, the
CRNA should submit the anesthesia code 01967 (if applicable)
and 01968 using the appropriate anesthesia modifier, with
anesthesia time units for actual face-to-face time.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Provider Policy and Procedure Manual (02/21/12)