Anesthesia

Feb 18

Denials of Post-op Pain Blocks

1. Post-op Pain Block Denials. United Healthcare (“UHC”) has started denying post-op pain blocks (“POP Blocks”) if there is no...

Dec 6, 2023

Documenting Anesthesia Time

The following factors should be taken into account when documenting pre-OR time, in room time, and PACU time. 1. START TIME. a. ...

Nov 16, 2023

DHHS Enforcement Actions Involving Anesthesia and Chronic Pain

DHHS just released its Annual Report for the Health Care Fraud & Abuse Control Program, wherein it detailed the Government’s latest...

Nov 11, 2023

Gastric U/S is Not Bundled for Anesthesia

We recently submitted a request for an official opinion to the AMA regarding whether an abdominal U/S is bundled into the anesthesia base...

Sep 3, 2023

Unnecessary Moderate Sedation Settlement

1. Settlement. On August 24, 2023, the U.S. DOJ released a press release in which it confirmed a $6.5mm settlement with an...

Mar 28, 2023

New SIJ Injection LCDs

Five of the seven Medicare Carriers around the country have adopted a multijurisdictional new LCD for SI Joint Injections (“SIJIs”). The...

Feb 28, 2023

Cannot Downcode 93355 to 93312

1. Question. Can 93312 be used for a TEE performed in connection with a TAVR (or other transcatheter or intracardiac or great vessel...