Summary & Overview
CPT 01942: Anesthesia for Lumbar/Sacral Neuromodulation and Vertebral Procedures
CPT code 01942 denotes anesthesia services for percutaneous image‑guided neuromodulation or intravertebral procedures targeting the lumbar or sacral spine or spinal cord. This code captures anesthetic management for procedures such as kyphoplasty, vertebroplasty, and spinal neuromodulation interventions that require image guidance and access to the lower spine. Accurate use of this code matters nationally because these procedures are increasing in prevalence as minimally invasive spinal therapies and implantable neuromodulation techniques expand.
Key payers examined include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication provides a concise national overview of coverage and billing considerations for anesthesia associated with spine‑targeted percutaneous interventions. Readers will find a clinical context for the service, typical sites of service, and an explanation of what the code represents. The report also summarizes available benchmarks and policy considerations where available and notes when input data are not provided. This resource is intended to help billing managers, anesthesia providers, and compliance teams understand the role of CPT code 01942 in documenting anesthesia care for lumbar and sacral image‑guided spinal procedures.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 01942 describes anesthesia services provided for percutaneous image‑guided neuromodulation or intravertebral procedures involving the lumbar or sacral spine or spinal cord. These services cover anesthesia care delivered while the patient undergoes procedures such as kyphoplasty, vertebroplasty, or image‑guided neuromodulation techniques that alter nerve activity through stimulation.
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Service type: Anesthesia for percutaneous image‑guided neuromodulation or intravertebral spine procedures
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room, ambulatory surgery center, or other procedural suites where image‑guided lumbar or sacral spinal interventions are performed
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD‑10 diagnoses, or related procedure codes.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 68-year-old patient with severe osteoporotic compression fractures of the lumbar vertebrae is scheduled for percutaneous image-guided kyphoplasty at a hospital outpatient surgical suite. The patient presents with severe axial low back pain refractory to conservative care, progressive height loss of the affected vertebral body, and limited ambulation. Preoperative evaluation by the anesthesiology team documents ASA physical status P3 due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and controlled coronary artery disease. Under fluoroscopic guidance the interventional spine team performs percutaneous transpedicular access to the fractured vertebral body and inflates a balloon tamp to restore vertebral height followed by polymethylmethacrylate cement injection. The anesthesia provider administers monitored anesthesia care with intravenous sedation and airway support as needed, monitors neuromonitoring and hemodynamics, manages perioperative analgesia, and documents the level of sedation and any intraoperative complications. Postprocedure recovery occurs in the post-anesthesia care unit with pain reassessment and discharge criteria evaluation.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
23 | Unusual Anesthesia | Use when medically necessary, unplanned severe systemic disturbance requires higher intensity anesthesia for this procedure. |
| | Bilateral Procedure | Use if the procedure is performed bilaterally on paired anatomic structures (rare for lumbar kyphoplasty). |