Anesthesia

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...

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. ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...