Summary & Overview
CPT 62322: Lumbar/Sacral Epidural or Perineural Injection Without Imaging
CPT code 62322 represents a lumbar or sacral epidural/perineural injection in which a diagnostic or therapeutic agent (for example, steroid or anesthetic) is delivered into the space around spinal nerves without the use of imaging guidance. This outpatient interventional pain-management procedure is commonly used for diagnostic nerve root localization or short- to intermediate-term relief of radicular low back and sacral pain. Nationally, accurate coding for 62322 affects clinical documentation, claims processing, and appropriate use monitoring for spine care services.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical service and typical sites where the procedure is performed, guidance on common billing considerations, and context for how this service fits within interventional pain management pathways. The publication also outlines benchmarking and policy-related topics readers can expect, including payer coverage patterns, coding distinctions for image-guided versus non-image-guided injections, and implications for documentation and claim adjudication.
This summary addresses national considerations for CPT code 62322, emphasizing clinical context, payer landscape, and areas for administrative attention. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 62322 describes the injection of a diagnostic or therapeutic substance, such as a pain medication or a steroid, into the space around the spinal nerves of the lumbar (lower back) or sacral (tailbone) region. The provider inserts a needle or catheter to facilitate the injection but does not use imaging guidance.
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Service type: Spinal epidural or perineural injection without imaging guidance
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Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgical center, hospital outpatient department, or office-based procedure setting depending on clinical and facility arrangements
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 54-year-old patient with chronic low back pain radiating to the left buttock presents to an interventional pain clinic for diagnostic and therapeutic management. Conservative care including physical therapy and oral analgesics provided limited relief. The provider performs a transforaminal lumbar epidural steroid injection without imaging guidance to deliver corticosteroid and local anesthetic into the epidural space at the symptomatic lumbar level to reduce inflammation around the affected nerve root and assess pain relief for diagnostic correlation. The clinical workflow includes pre-procedure evaluation (review of anticoagulation, allergies, and recent imaging), informed consent, sterile field preparation, local skin anesthesia, needle or catheter insertion into the lumbar/sacral epidural space using anatomical landmarks, injection of the therapeutic agent, monitoring for immediate complications, and post-procedure discharge instructions with activity restrictions and follow-up planning.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
25 | Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician on the day of a procedure | Use when a distinct E/M visit is performed and documented on the same day as the injection |
| 52 | Reduced services | Use when the service was partially reduced or not completed as described