What’s the difference between modifier QX and QS?

QX = CRNA services; QS = MAC anesthesia.

What is the CPT code used for anesthesia?

Anesthesia CPT Codes range from 00100 to 01999 and are categorized by the surgical procedure’s anatomical site . For example: 00100 : Anesthesia for processes on the skull. 00810 : Anesthesia for intraperitoneal procedures in the lower abdomen (e.g., appendectomy). Key Tip : Always match the code to the procedure’s location and complexity.

What is CPT code 00840 for anesthesia?

CPT 00840 : Anesthesia for procedures on the lower abdomen (e.g., hernia repair, cystoscopy). Examples : Inguinal hernia repair, laparoscopic pelvic surgery.

Difference between anesthesia codes 00811 and 00812?

00811 : Anesthesia for upper abdominal procedures (e.g., open gallbladder surgery). 00812 : Anesthesia for lower abdominal procedures (e.g., colectomy). Key Distinction : 00811 covers upper abdomen (stomach, liver), while 00812 applies to lower abdomen (colon, bladder).

Three classifications of anesthesia CPT?

Anesthesia codes are classified by: Anatomical Site : Codes grouped by body region (e.g., head, thorax, spine). Type of Anesthesia Service : General Anesthesia (e.g., 00100). Regional Anesthesia (e.g., 01996 for epidural). Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) (e.g., 01991). Complexity : Base units reflecting procedural risk (e.g., 00810 vs. 00811).

+1 (917) 994-9941

info@curesmb.com

3811 Ditmars Blvd# 1124, Astoria, NY 11105

Get the Complete Healthcare Practice Aduit Report

Edit Template

Anesthesia CPT Codes & Modifiers - A Coding Guide

Name: Cures Medical Billing Services Company
Address: 3811 Ditmars Blvd# 1124, Astoria, NY 11105, Astoria, NY, 11105, USA
Telephone: +1 (917) 994-9941

Accurate anesthesia coding is critical for compliance and reimbursement. With over 200 anesthesia-specific CPT codes and modifiers, even experienced coders face challenges. This guide simplifies anesthesia coding with actionable insights and real-world examples.

Understanding Anesthesia CPT Codes

Anesthesia codes are structured around surgical procedures and anatomical sites, with base units reflecting complexity. Time-based reporting and physical status modifiers (e.g., P1–P6) further impact medical billing.

Key Components

Base Units: Assigned per procedure (e.g., CPT 00813 = 6 base units for perineal procedures).
Time Units: 1 unit = 15 minutes. Total time = Base units + (Total minutes/15).
Physical Status Modifiers: P1 (healthy patient) to P6 (brain-dead organ donor).

Top 10 Anesthesia CPT Codes

CPT 00813: Anesthesia for vulvectomy, perineal procedures.
CPT 00100: General anesthesia for procedures on the head/neck.
CPT 00400: Anesthesia for thyroid procedures.
CPT 00790: Anesthesia for upper abdominal laparoscopy.
CPT 01173: Anesthesia for cardiac catheterization.
CPT 01214: Anesthesia for Trans venous pacemaker insertion (includes fluoroscopy).
CPT 00326: Anesthesia for dental procedures (e.g., extractions).
CPT 00740: Anesthesia for colonoscopy.
CPT 01935: Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) for pain management.
CPT 99100: Controlled hypotension add-on (e.g., complex neurosurgery).

Important Anesthesia Modifiers

QX: CRNA-administered anesthesia (medical direction).
QS: Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC).
AA: Anesthesiologist personally performed.
QK: Medical direction of 2–4 concurrent cases.
G8/G9: MAC for deep complex or diagnostic/therapeutic procedures.

Anesthesia Coding for Special Scenarios

Controlled Hypotension

Use CPT 99100 as an add-on to the primary anesthesia code.
Example: Craniotomy (CPT 00210 + 99100).

Trans venous Pacemaker Insertion

Code CPT 01214 (includes imaging guidance).

Dental Procedures

Use CPT 00326 for oral surgery or D codes (e.g., D9223) for MAC in dentistry.

Pain Management

MAC anesthesia: CPT 01935 + modifier QS.

Surgery vs. Radiology Anesthesia Codes

Surgery: Codes are procedure-specific (e.g., CPT 00740 for colonoscopy).
Radiology: Use CPT 0199x series (e.g., CPT 01996 for MRI anesthesia).

Anesthesia Coding Guidelines

Time Documentation: Start when the provider begins pre-op care; end at handoff.
Bundling: Do not report separately for line placements or imaging.
Avoid Denials: Link modifiers correctly (e.g., QX for CRNAs).

About Us

Our goal is to streamline your healthcare revenue cycle management, give you the financial freedom your practice deserves, and take control with a partner specializing in provider RCM optimization and services excellence.

Our Services

Recent Blogs

All Post
Medical
Uncategorised

CPT Code 76817 Guide to Transvaginal Ultrasound Coding

April 3, 2025

CPT Code 76801 Guide to Limited Obstetrical Ultrasounds

April 1, 2025

CPT 76805 Explained Mastering First-Trimester Ultrasound Billing

March 31, 2025

FAQ

What’s the difference between modifier QX and QS?
QX = CRNA services; QS = MAC anesthesia.
How to code MAC for a colonoscopy?
Use CPT 00740 + modifier QS.
What is the CPT code used for anesthesia?
Anesthesia CPT Codes range from 00100 to 01999 and are categorized by the surgical procedure’s anatomical site. For example:
- 00100: Anesthesia for processes on the skull.
- 00810: Anesthesia for intraperitoneal procedures in the lower abdomen (e.g., appendectomy).
Key Tip: Always match the code to the procedure’s location and complexity.
What is CPT code 00840 for anesthesia?
- CPT 00840: Anesthesia for procedures on the lower abdomen (e.g., hernia repair, cystoscopy).
- Examples: Inguinal hernia repair, laparoscopic pelvic surgery.
Difference between anesthesia codes 00811 and 00812?
- 00811: Anesthesia for upper abdominal procedures (e.g., open gallbladder surgery).
- 00812: Anesthesia for lower abdominal procedures (e.g., colectomy).
- Key Distinction: 00811 covers upper abdomen (stomach, liver), while 00812 applies to lower abdomen (colon, bladder).
Three classifications of anesthesia CPT?
- Anesthesia codes are classified by:
1. Anatomical Site: Codes grouped by body region (e.g., head, thorax, spine).
2. Type of Anesthesia Service:
  - General Anesthesia (e.g., 00100).
  - Regional Anesthesia (e.g., 01996 for epidural).
  - Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) (e.g., 01991).
3. Complexity: Base units reflecting procedural risk (e.g., 00810 vs. 00811).

States We Serve

Discover Cures Medical Billing Services Across Different States

Florida

New York

Maryland

Colorado

New Jersey

Arizona

Texas

California

Hawaii

Georgia

North Carolina

Washington

Your Success Is Our Success

We are a team of national medical billing service experts based in Astoria, NY, committed to providing ongoing value to our customers. We leverage technology and implement best practices to provide high-quality and cost-efficient medical billing solutions from domestic locations, enabling customers to achieve their business goals. Cures Medical Billing is the best option for any medical billing needs.

At Cures Billing Services, we prioritize collaboration and recognize the uniqueness of each healthcare provider or organization
Maximize your revenue by focusing on growing your practice and let us handle all the back-end billing processes.
We can customize reports to support your practice’s unique requirements

Medical billing around Astoria, NY, and beyond is our core competency and our specialists will efficiently manage all your billing needs. Our medical billing specialists have over 12 Plus years of experience with all security technologies to ensure data integrity for our customers. Using our medical billing service, anyone can make their medical billing task less resource-consuming.

Start free 30 Days Trial Now

Contact Our RCM

Our Services

Health services billing effortlessly with Cures MB. Our skilled professionals are dedicated to ensuring financial success through transparent and secure practices. Trust Cures MB for precise and careful handling of all your billing needs.