Upper GI Scopes Anesthesia – monitored
Unless precise diagnoses are present on the claim, Medicare Administrator Contractors (MACs) are now limiting the use of monitored anesthesia care with drugs such as propofol for specified procedures. Included in the procedures in which Medicare Administrator Contractors now offer limited reimbursement is Anesthesia for upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures (upper GI Scopes) endoscope introduced proximal to duodenum ie 00740. This anesthesia code is used with upper gastrointestinal endoscopies CPT(R) codes 43200-43273 for the use of propofol anesthesia, which is widely accepted as the standard of care by gastroenterologists. According to the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the clinical advantages of propofol include:
? Rapid onset
? Favorable pharmacodynamics
? Mild antiemetic properties
? Potentially greater effectiveness
? Rapid termination of effect
? Expedited recovery
Note that these upper GastrointestinaI endoscopy codes include the use of moderate sedation, which differs from monitored anesthesia care.
Monitored Anesthesia Care vs. Moderate Sedation
As written in CMS Pub 100-07 transmittal 59 ?482.52 Condition of Participation: Anesthesia Services, monitored anesthesia care includes “Deep sedation/analgesia: a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients cannot be easily aroused but respond purposefully following repeated or painful stimulation. The ability to independently maintain ventilatory function may be impaired. Patients may require assistance in maintaining a patent airway, and spontaneous ventilation may be inadequate. Cardiovascular function is usually maintained. An example of deep sedation would be a screening colonoscopy when there is a decision to use propofol, so as to decrease movement and improve visualization for this type of invasive procedure.”
Despite the reference to utilization of deep sedation with colonoscopies, there is no such reference for an upper GI scope procedure. These services include only Moderate Sedation/Analgesia: (?Conscious Sedation?): A drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients respond purposefully to verbal commands, either alone or accompanied by light tactile stimulation. No interventions are required to maintain a patent airway, and spontaneous ventilation is adequate. Cardiovascular function is usually maintained. For example, a patient undergoing the reduction of a dislocated large joint (shoulder) may require this form of sedation to tolerate the procedure.
The World Journal of Gastroenterology published a study comparing monitored anesthesia care and moderate sedation. The main findings of the paper were that deep sedation was more frequent in the monitored anesthesia care group; and, this group had a more rapid recovery after the procedure.
Despite these findings, monitored anesthesia care is only covered for these Medicare beneficiaries with designated diagnoses. These include significant medical conditions, such as:
? Morbid obesity
? Diabetes
? Dementia
? Alcohol and drug-related disorders
? Cystic fibrosis
? Schizophrenia
? Major depressive disorders
? Specified heart and chronic kidney diseases
? Pediatric patients
? Combative patients
? Certain specified hypothyroidism
? Patients with low pain thresholds or those who suffer severe pain
? Certain anaphylactic reactions
Becoming familiar with your local carrier?s and commercial payers? policies will help in advising the patients on the type of anesthesia coverage provided, prior to the procedure.