Is CPT code 20610 considered surgery?
Asked by: Nat Heathcote DVM | Last update: December 15, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (68 votes)
Is 20610 considered surgery?
The 20610 CPT code is used in medical procedures involving arthrocentesis, aspiration, and/or injection of major joints or bursae. This code is primarily utilized to remove fluid from joints for diagnostic analysis or to administer medication for pain relief and inflammation reduction.
What CPT codes are considered surgical?
Surgery CPT® Code range 10004- 69990
The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code range for Surgery 10004-69990 is a medical code set maintained by the American Medical Association.
What is CPT code 20610 for SI joint injection?
CPT® 20610 describes aspiration (removal of fluid) from, or injection into, a major joint (defined as a shoulder, hip, knee, or subacromial bursa), or both aspiration and injection of the same joint. The procedure may be performed for diagnostic analysis and/or to relieve pain and swelling in the joint.
Is CPT 64493 a surgical code?
The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code 64493 as maintained by American Medical Association, is a medical procedural code under the range - Introduction/Injection of Anesthetic Agent (Nerve Block), Diagnostic or Therapeutic Procedures on the Paravertebral Spinal Nerves and Branches.
CPT 20610 Documentation Requirements
What is surgical code 29824?
CPT code 29824 is a medical billing code for shoulder arthroscopy surgery involving the distal clavicle.
How do you code facet joint injections?
CPT Codes 64490, 64491, 64492, 64493, 64494, 64495 describe the introduction/ injection of a diagnostic or therapeutic agent into the paravertebral facet joint or into the nerves that innervate that joint by level.
What is CPT code 20610 billing guidelines?
The procedure code (CPT code) 20610 or 20611 may be billed for the intraarticular injection. The charge, if any, for the drug or biological must be included in the physician's bill and the cost of the drug or biological must represent an expense to the physician.
What is the difference between 20610 and 96372?
CPT code 20610 is used for joint or bursa injections (such as steroid injections into the knee), while 96372 is for intramuscular or subcutaneous injections that do not involve joints. Essentially, 20610 relates to targeted joint procedures, and 96372 applies to general therapeutic or diagnostic injections.
How do you bill a SI joint injection?
Critical Access Hospitals (TOB 85X) should report sacroiliac joint injection with CPT 27096 and a sacral nerve block with CPT 64451. Bilateral injections should be reported using modifier 50.
What is surgery coding?
Surgical Coding Need
They must be accurate the first time. The legal and financial risks of upcoding or undervaluation are enormous. Surgical specialty coding covers the most complex portion of the CPT codes and presents procedural, modifier, and diagnostic coding challenges.
Can CPT II codes be billed alone?
Report the appropriate CPT II code for the LDL-C result value. CPT Category II codes can be reported alone on a claim with $0.00 value (or $0.01 value if your system requires it in order for the codes to populate on a claim).
What does surgery literally mean?
Listen to pronunciation. (SER-juh-ree) A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. Also called operation.
Is a joint injection a surgical procedure?
Benefits of joint injections
Pain injections for the joints offer a minimally invasive option for pain relief without the need for surgery.
How to bill 99213 and 20610 together?
Use the E/M code with a modifier (for example, 99213-25), as well as the knee joint aspiration procedure code 20610. Thus, when a new problem requires more than a cursory review, the visit generally qualifies for an E/M with modifier -25.
What is the difference between CPT 20610 and 20611?
Use 20610 for a major joint or bursa, such as the shoulder, knee, or hip joint, or the subacromial bursa when no ultrasound guidance is used for needle placement. Report 20611 when ultrasonic guidance is used and a permanent recording is made with a report of the procedure.
Is 20610 a surgical code?
CPT code 20610 is used for a procedure where a healthcare provider drains fluid from or injects medication into a joint or bursa without using ultrasound guidance. This code typically applies to treatments for conditions like arthritis or bursitis to relieve pain and inflammation.
Is 96372 considered a procedure?
The 96372 CPT code is is a procedural code defined as therapeutic, prophylactic, and diagnostic substance by subcutaneous or intramuscular injections and infusions. .
What is the CPT code for joint injection administration?
The CPT codes for arthrocentesis aspiration or injection procedures are 20600-20611. Accurate reimbursement depends on reporting the services provided using all the appropriate code sets and modifiers.
Do you bill 96372 with 20610?
A patient undergoes a diagnostic injection (96372) for a joint aspiration and also receives an arthrocentesis (20610) during the same visit. Modifier 59 would be added to the 96372 code to indicate that it is separate and distinct from the arthrocentesis procedure.
Are hyaluronic acid injections covered by insurance?
Most insurance plans cover hyaluronic acid injections for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis not responding to other treatments. They often require that patients first try other treatments like physical therapy. Some insurance plans may only cover certain brands of shots.
Can you bill an office visit with a joint injection?
Answer: Unfortunately, no. It is true that an evaluation and management code, an E/M or office visit, can be reported with a minor procedure such as an injection, but only if the E/M is significant and separate and exceeds the “pre-service evaluation” that is inherent to the injection.
Are facet injections considered surgery?
Facet Joint Injections are a minimally invasive non-surgical treatment that is used as treatment for many different causes of neck and back pain.
Is a rhizotomy considered surgery?
Rhizotomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove sensation from a painful nerve by killing nerve fibers responsible for sending pain signals to the brain. The nerve fibers can be destroyed by severing them with a surgical instrument or burning them with a chemical or electrical current.
What is the diagnosis code for facet joint injection?
For unilateral paravertebral facet injection of the T12-L1 and L1-L2 levels or nerves innervating that joint, use 64490 and 64494 once. For bilateral paravertebral facet injection of the T12-L1 and L1 – L2 levels or nerves innervating that joint, use 64490 with modifier 50 and 64494 with modifier 50.