Got coding questions? Your Academy has the answers. Each month we feature a member’s question with an answer provided by AAPM&R’s Reimbursement and Policy Review Committee (RPRC).
Q: Can I bill a second code if I aspirate a joint and then inject the same joint?
A: No, there is a single code that describes both aspiration and injection. Code 20610 is described as: arthrocentesis, aspiration, and/or injection of a major joint or bursa (e.g., shoulder, hip, knee, subacromial bursa). If both services are provided, they are both billed under a single unit of that code. Code 20610 does not include imaging guidance. If ultrasound guidance is used, code 20611 is appropriate. If the service is provided with fluoroscopic guidance, code 77002 (fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement) is billed in addition to 20610.
Find additional resources related to reimbursement here. Do you have a coding or billing question? Contact AAPM&R at codingquestions@aapmr.org for assistance.
Accurate coding is the responsibility of the provider. This article is intended only as a resource to assist in the billing process.