OAR 410-130-0368: Anesthesia Services

(1) Anesthesia is not covered for procedures that are below the funding line on the Health Services Commission’s Prioritized List of Health Services (see OAR 410-141-0520). (2) Effective January 1, 2012 all anesthesia claims submitted must be billed in minutes only. This includes; (a) Claims for services provided prior to 1/1/12 that are submitted for the first time in 2012; (b) Resubmitted unpaid claims for services provided prior to 1/1/12; and (c) Adjustments made to claims for services performed prior to 1/1/12. Units must be converted by the provider from units to minutes. (3) Qualifier MJ (indicating minutes) must be added to all claims; (a) Claims with qualifier UN (indicating units) will be denied; and (b) Claims without a qualifier will be denied. (4) Reimbursement is based on the base units assigned to each anesthesia code listed in the current American Society of Anesthesiology Relative Value Guide plus one unit per each 15 minutes of anesthesia time, except for anesthesia for neuraxial labor analgesia/anesthesia/anesthesia (code 01967). See (5) below for reimbursement of neuraxial labor analgesia/anesthesia. (a) The Division of Medical Assistance Programs (Division) will automatically calculate payment by adding the base units of the billed anesthesia code plus a unit per each 15 minutes of anesthesia time; (b) Reimbursement will be made at a fraction of a unit for the last 1-14 minutes of anesthesia time; (c) Do not add base units in addition to minutes. (5) Anesthesia for neuraxial labor analgesia/anesthesia (code 01967) will be paid at a flat rate regardless of the units billed. (6) Reimbursement for qualifying circumstances codes 99100-99140 and modifiers P1-P6 is bundled in the payment for codes 00100-01999. Do not add charges for 99100-99140 and modifiers P1-P6 in charges for 00100-01999. (7) A valid consent form is required for all hysterectomies and sterilizations. (8) If prior authorization (PA) was not obtained for a procedure that requires PA, then the anesthesia services may not be paid. Refer to OAR 410-130-0200 PA Table 130-0200-1. (9) Anesthesia services are not payable to the provider performing the surgical procedure except for moderate (conscious) sedation. (10) Moderate (conscious) sedation must be billed with codes 99143-99150. [ED. NOTE: Tables referenced are available from the agency.]