In keeping with standard anesthesia billing guidelines for Medicare, only one anesthesia code may be reported for anesthesia services provided in conjunction with radiological procedures. Radiological Supervision and Interpretation (S & I) codes will usually be applicable to radiological procedures
being performed.
The appropriate S & I code may be reported by the appropriate provider (radiologist, cardiologist, neurosurgeon, radiation oncologist, etc.). Accordingly, S & I codes are not included in anesthesia codes referable to these procedures; only the appropriate provider, however, may bill for S & I services. CPT code 01920 (Anesthesia for cardiac catheterization including coronary angiography and ventriculography (not to include Swan- Ganz catheter) can be reported for monitored anesthesia care (MAC) in patients who are critically ill or critically unstable.
If the physician performing the radiologic service places a catheter as part of that service, and, through the same site, a catheter is left and used for monitoring purposes, it is inappropriate for either the anesthesiologist/certified
registered nurse anesthetist or the physician performing the radiologic procedure to bill for placement of the monitoring catheter (e.g., CPT codes 36500, 36555-36556, 36568-36569, 36580, 36584, 36597).
