CPT code 01996 denotes daily anesthesia management for patients receiving continuous epidural or subarachnoid (intrathecal) drug administration in the hospital. This code captures the ongoing oversight and management responsibilities of the anesthesia provider for neuraxial continuous infusion therapies, distinguishing episodic anesthesia procedures from continuous daily care. Nationally, accurate use of this code affects coding clarity, clinical documentation, and appropriate hospital billing for sustained neuraxial analgesia or drug delivery.

Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an explanation of the clinical context for continuous neuraxial drug administration, guidance on common billing modifiers and billing considerations (list provided), and an outline of where this service is typically reported on the hospital claim. The publication summarizes benchmarks where available and highlights policy topics relevant to payer coverage and medical necessity determinations for prolonged neuraxial drug management.

The content is intended for clinicians, coding professionals, and revenue cycle staff seeking a concise reference to what CPT code 01996 represents, how it differs from single-procedure anesthesia codes, and the documentation elements typically associated with daily neuraxial infusion management. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable.