Anesthesia Guidelines

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1995 E&M Guidelines

1997 E& M Guidelines

Anesthesia Center - From CMS; find 2009 & 2008 Anesthesia Conversion Factors; 2009 & 2008 Base Units for CPT codes.

Anesthesia Specialty Guide For Medicare Part B, From Highmark Medicare (2008)

ASA's Fluoroscopy Letter - updated 3/19/2007

ASA Analysis of New Anesthesia Interpretive Guidelines for Hospitalsa - Definition of CMS's rules re: "Immediately Available"; updated on 12/09/2009

ASA's Letter to CMS re: new supervision guidelines on 01/18/2010

ASA's Position on Monitored Anesthesia Care updated on 9/02/2008.

CMS - 12/11/2009 - Hospital Anesthesia Services Interpretive Guidelines details from CMS - look for new anesthesia guidelines regarding physician supervision and definition re:"Immediately Available"; New MAC (monitored anesthesia care) guidelines; guidelines for CRNAs providing regional anesthesia for labor & delivery.

CMS Web-based Training specific to CRNA billing guidance. Have you seen this yet? Hit the >> at the bottom of the page & view more info. Of interesting note - this also gives authoritative reference to CMS IOMs regarding this subject.

Continuum of Depth of Sedation - A definition of the levels & depths of anesthesia - from ASA, this is an excellent chart to help determine the levels of sedation, from moderate sedation to Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) to General Anesthesia

Critical Care by Anesthesiologists - Guidelines from ASA, 10/27/2004

Critical Care & Trauma Medical Services Guidelines from ASA, amended on 10/18/2006

CRNA or Anesthesiologist's Assistant Services Basic rules and definitions - See: Part 410.69

CRNA Opt-out States If you have any updates - please share!

Distinguishing MAC (Monitored Anesthesia Care) from Moderate Sedation (aka: Conscious Sedation) updated by ASA on 9/02/2008

Documentation Guidelines of Anesthesia Care; from ASA, updated 10-22-2008

Federal Register, Jan 2001 - "State laws determine which professionals are permitted to administer anesthetics & the level of supervision required."

Guidelines for Office-based Anesthesia - from ASA

MAC Description by ASA from 1998

Moderate Procedural Sedation: The Nuts & Bolts from ACEP (American College of Emergency Physicians), provides documentation guidelines for coding/billing Moderate Sedation - aka: Conscious Sedation - in an emergency department setting. Interesting read.

NCCI Chapter 2 - Anesthesia Services - National Correct Coding Policy Manual for Part B Medicare Carriers

Payment for Anesthesia Services Internet Only Manuals from CMS, Chapter 12, Section 50

Post Op Pain Procedures in Conjunction with Anesthesia Services - from the ASA, revised & updated 9/02/2008/ Excellent article on what, when & how certain CPT codes can be reported for post-op pain and invasive monitoring (ie: Swan-Ganz).

Practice Guidelines for Chronic Pain Management by ASA

Safe Use of Propofol approved by ASA October 27, 2004

Standards for PostAnesthesia Care from ASA, updated 10/27/2004

Standards for PreAnesthesia Care from ASA, updated 10/22/2008

Statement on Anesthesia Care Team from ASA 10-22-2008. Of particular interest, see page 3 about the Supervising of CRNA by the Surgeon

Statement on NonOperating Room Anesthetizing Locations from ASA, updated 10/22/2008

Teaching Anesthesiologist Rules/Guidelines from CMS, effective Jan 1, 2010. Also, CMS Transmittal 1859 providing guidance.