CPT 01922: Anesthesia for Non‑Invasive Imaging or Radiation Therapy
CPT code 01922 represents anesthesia services delivered during non–invasive imaging or radiation therapy procedures. It identifies encounters where an anesthesia professional provides peri-procedural anesthesia management to facilitate imaging or radiation treatments that do not involve invasive surgical techniques. Nationally, accurate use of this code supports appropriate clinical documentation, claims adjudication, and resource tracking for anesthesiology and radiation oncology services.
Key payers in typical analyses include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for use of CPT code 01922, common coding relationships, and comparisons to related anesthesia codes used for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic radiology. The publication summarizes typical sites of service and clinical scenarios prompting anesthesia for imaging or radiation therapy, and it highlights common billing considerations and coding relationships to nearby anesthesia codes for imaging and radiation services.
This summary is written for a national audience and focuses on code definition, clinical setting, payer coverage scope, and practical coding context for anesthesia professionals and revenue cycle stakeholders.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 01922 describes anesthesia services provided for patients undergoing non–invasive imaging or radiation therapy. The service typically involves administration and management of anesthesia during imaging or radiation sessions that do not require invasive surgical intervention.
Service type: Anesthesia for non-invasive imaging or radiation therapy
Typical site of service: Imaging centers or radiation oncology suites where diagnostic imaging or therapeutic radiation is delivered
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult with a cancer diagnosis scheduled to receive non‑invasive imaging or external beam radiation therapy who requires anesthesia to tolerate immobilization or avoid movement that would compromise imaging or radiation targeting. Example: a 62‑year‑old male with C34.90 (malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of bronchus or lung) and severe anxiety and COPD undergoing stereotactic body radiation therapy to a pulmonary lesion. Pre‑procedure workflow includes pre‑anesthesia evaluation (airway, cardiopulmonary status, medication reconciliation), consent for anesthesia, verification of radiation/imaging plan and immobilization device, and coordination with radiation oncology or radiology staff for timed delivery. On the day of service the anesthesiology team provides monitored deep sedation or general anesthesia in the radiation suite or imaging suite, ensures physiologic stability during imaging/radiation, manages airway and ventilation as needed, and performs post‑anesthesia recovery and handoff to nursing with documentation of anesthetic agents, airway management, monitoring data, and any intra‑procedural events. Typical sites of service are the radiation therapy suite or diagnostic/therapeutic imaging department within an outpatient cancer center or hospital ambulatory clinic.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
23 | Unusual procedural service (anesthesia for procedures that are normally done without anesthesia) | Use when anesthesia is medically necessary for imaging or radiation that typically does not require anesthesia due to patient factors (eg, severe claustrophobia, inability to cooperate). |
52 | Reduced service | Use when anesthesia is intentionally partially reduced or abbreviated relative to the usual service. |
53 | Discontinued procedure | Use when anesthesia care is terminated before completion for patient safety or other valid reasons. |
62 | Two surgeons or two physicians | Use when another physician of the same specialty performs distinct anesthesia-related duties requiring shared responsibility (rare for anesthesia but used per payer rules). |
76 | Repeat procedure by same physician | Use when anesthesia for the same imaging/radiation procedure is repeated later the same day by the same anesthesiologist. |
78 | Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room | Use when patient requires return for anesthesia‑related care or complications during the same global period. |
99 | Multiple modifiers — significant unusual services | Use on claims systems that require 99 to accompany nonstandard or multiple anesthesia modifiers per payer guidance. |
AA | Anesthesia services performed personally by anesthesiologist | Use when an MD/DO anesthesiologist personally performs the anesthesia. |
QK | Medical direction of two, three, or four anesthesia providers | Use when an anesthesiologist medically directs multiple qualified anesthesia practitioners. |
QS | Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) — when billed separately by CRNA/Anesthesiologist | Use for MAC services when payers accept the QS modifier for separate reporting. |
QX | CRNA service furnished under supervision of a physician (modifier to identify CRNA) | Use when a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist furnishes the service under physician supervision. |
QY | CRNA service furnished under an anesthesiologist’s medical direction | Use when a CRNA performs the service with an anesthesiologist directing multiple providers. |
AD | Medical supervision by a physician — more than four concurrent anesthesia procedures | Use when the anesthesiologist supervises more than four concurrent anesthesia procedures per CMS rules (rare in radiology/radiation settings). |
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
207L00000X | Anesthesiology | Physician anesthesiologists who provide peri‑procedural anesthesia for imaging and radiation therapy. |
207LA0401X | Pain Medicine (Anesthesiology) | Anesthesiologists with pain specialization who may be involved when complex analgesia or nerve block techniques are required for immobilization or pain control. |
367500000X | Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist | CRNAs who deliver anesthesia services in radiation or imaging suites under supervision or direction as permitted by state law and payer policy. |
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
Z51.0 | Encounter for antineoplastic radiation therapy | Primary reason for anesthesia during radiation therapy sessions when patient immobilization or immobility is required. |
Z51.11 | Encounter for antineoplastic chemotherapy | Relevant when imaging or combined modality treatment (chemoradiation) requires anesthesia for imaging related to chemotherapy planning or combined procedures. |
C34.90 | Malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of bronchus or lung | Example primary cancer diagnosis necessitating repeated imaging or stereotactic radiation requiring anesthesia for immobilization and respiratory control. |
C50.919 | Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of unspecified female breast | Breast cancer patients may require imaging or radiation under anesthesia when unable to tolerate positioning or immobilization. |
C61 | Malignant neoplasm of prostate | Prostate cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy may require anesthesia for immobilization or for related imaging procedures in selected circumstances. |
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
01920 | Anesthesia for diagnostic imaging procedures | Alternative anesthesia code for diagnostic imaging; use when the imaging procedure is diagnostic rather than therapeutic radiation. |
01921 | Anesthesia for therapeutic radiological procedures | Closely related; use when anesthetic services are specifically for therapeutic radiology procedures. 01922 is used for non‑invasive imaging or radiation therapy—01921 applies to therapeutic radiological procedures and may be selected based on the specific radiation treatment type. |
01924 | Anesthesia for procedures on the eye | Use when imaging or radiation involves ocular procedures requiring specialized anesthesia; listed for cross‑reference when eye procedures are part of the clinical workflow. |
01925 | Anesthesia for procedures on the ear | Use when related imaging or radiotherapy involves ear procedures needing anesthesia; included for procedural context. |