AAPC Certified Professional Coder CPC Question # 54 Topic 6 Discussion

1. Procedure and CPT® Code Selection:

The emergency department physician placed an indwelling catheter into the lumbar region for continuous infusion for pain management with fluoroscopic guidance.

CPT® Code 62327 is appropriate for injection or catheter placement for continuous infusion of anesthetic or analgesic in the lumbar or sacral region using imaging guidance.

CPT® Code 77003 represents the fluoroscopic guidance used during the catheter placement, which is separately reportable in this case.

2. Rationale for Excluding Other Options:

Code 62326 (in options B and D) is for the injection or catheter placement without imaging guidance. Since fluoroscopic guidance was specifically mentioned, 62327 is the appropriate choice.

Code 77003 must be reported separately when fluoroscopy is used in conjunction with 62327 for pain management catheter placement.

3. AAPC and CPT® Coding Guidelines:

According to AAPC guidelines, the combination of 62327 and 77003 is correct when catheter placement for continuous infusion is performed with fluoroscopic guidance.

Therefore, the correct answer is C. 62327, 77003.