CPC Anesthesia Coding and Modifiers 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the anesthesia modifier AA signify on a claim?
- Anesthesia services performed personally by an anesthesiologist (Correct answer)
- Medical direction of a CRNA by an anesthesiologist
- CRNA service without medical direction
- Monitored anesthesia care by an anesthesiologist
Correct answer: Anesthesia services performed personally by an anesthesiologist
Modifier AA indicates that the anesthesiologist personally performed the anesthesia service.
Question 2: Which qualifying circumstance code is added when anesthesia is provided to a patient who is utilizing controlled hypotension?
- 99100
- 99116
- 99135 (Correct answer)
- 99140
Correct answer: 99135
CPT 99135 is used when the anesthesiologist employs controlled hypotension as a significant additional service during the procedure.
Question 3: A coder sees 'MAC' documented in the anesthesia record. What does this abbreviation mean?
- Maximum Anesthesia Concentration
- Monitored Anesthesia Care (Correct answer)
- Mandatory Airway Control
- Minimal Anesthetic Component
Correct answer: Monitored Anesthesia Care
MAC stands for Monitored Anesthesia Care, where the anesthesiologist monitors the patient who may receive local or sedation by the surgeon.
Question 4: An anesthesiologist directs five concurrent CRNA cases. Which modifier must be appended to the anesthesiologist's claims?
- QK
- AD (Correct answer)
- QY
- AA
Correct answer: AD
Modifier AD is used when an anesthesiologist medically supervises more than four concurrent procedures, limiting reimbursement.
Question 5: Which body area corresponds to anesthesia CPT codes 00300–00352?
- Head
- Neck (Correct answer)
- Thorax
- Spine and spinal cord
Correct answer: Neck
CPT anesthesia codes 00300–00352 cover procedures performed on the neck.
Question 6: What ASA physical status modifier is assigned to a healthy patient with no systemic disease?
- P1 (Correct answer)
- P2
- P3
- P4
Correct answer: P1
ASA P1 denotes a normal healthy patient with no organic, physiologic, or psychiatric disturbance.
Question 7: When billing for an obstetric patient receiving epidural anesthesia for labor and delivery, which CPT code is most appropriate?
- 00940
- 01960
- 01967 (Correct answer)
- 01996
Correct answer: 01967
CPT 01967 covers neuraxial labor analgesia/anesthesia for planned vaginal delivery.
CPC Anesthesia Coding and Modifiers 3
What does the anesthesia modifier AA signify on a claim?