Here's a scenario, my pain doc performs a Percutaneous Vertebroplasty or Kyphoplasty and also does the moderate sedation. My question is, can we bill both the perc vertebroplasty and the moderate conscious sedation? -Just my passion.com

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Here's a scenario, my pain doc performs a Percutaneous Vertebroplasty or
Kyphoplasty and also does the moderate sedation.

My question is, can we bill both the perc vertebroplasty and the moderate
conscious sedation?

Per AMA CPT 2010

22520 - Percutaneous vertebroplasty, 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral
injection; thoracic
22521 - Percutaneous vertebroplasty, 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral
injection; lumbar
+22522 - Percutaneous vertebroplasty, 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral
injection; each additional thoracic or lumbar vertebral body (List separately in
addition to code for primary procedure)

The above codes are revised in 2010 (see CPT Changes Insider's View 2010)
and now has a bullet of a "bulls eye" which indicates that these codes does
INCLUDE moderate conscious sedation.

And per CCI Edits, it indicates a "0" which means you can not bypass edits. You
can not bill for the sedation separately.

For codes that includes moderate conscious sedation, refer to Appendix G of
your CPT code book.

Reference: CPT Changes Insider's View 2010, AMA CPT Code Book-Appendix
G.