Name of Manual - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

Coding Policies and Guidelines (Anesthesia)
Documentation The anesthesia record (either at the facility or the provider’s office)
must clearly identify the professional or professionals providing
the anesthesia service. For legal reasons, and in order to justify
charges, Blue Cross requests that both the CRNA and
anesthesiologist signatures be present for medically directed care.
Time Designation/
Submission
11-8
Anesthesia time should be indicated on the 837P claim format in
the unit(s) field of the 837P record. Anesthesia time begins when
the anesthesiologist or CRNA begins to prepare the patient for the
induction of anesthesia in the operating room, or an equivalent
area, and ends when they are no longer in personal attendance.
Code the anesthesia time as minutes in the units of service field.
Diagnosis Coding Use ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes. Select the diagnosis code that
best describes the reason for the surgery based on the patient’s
medical record. Diagnosis code V50.1, plastic surgery for
unacceptable cosmetic surgery appearance, may be submitted
when the patient has requested elective surgery and that is the only
surgery performed during an operative session.
Multiple Surgery Code anesthesia services associated with multiple or bilateral
surgical procedures performed during the same operative session
with the single anesthesia code that has the highest base unit value.
Cardioversion
Restriction
Cardioversion, CPT code 92960 (cardioversion, elective, electrical
conversion of arrhythmia; external) will not be allowed if
submitted by a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Provider Policy and Procedure Manual (02/21/12)