Summary & Overview
CPT 64467: Unilateral Thoracic Fascial Plane Block, Continuous Infusion
CPT code 64467 reports continuous infusion for a unilateral thoracic fascial plane block, a regional anesthesia technique used to provide chest wall analgesia. This code includes imaging guidance when performed and reflects an evolving area of perioperative and acute pain management as clinicians seek opioid-sparing options. Nationally, use of regional continuous infusions for thoracic analgesia is clinically significant for postoperative pain control after thoracic and certain breast or chest wall procedures.
Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for the code, common billing modifiers and claims considerations, and how payers typically classify this type of continuous regional anesthesia service. The publication summarizes available benchmarks where present, highlights common administrative and coding considerations relevant to hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers, and outlines what data elements are and are not available for this billing code.
Intended audiences are billing professionals, anesthesia providers, perioperative administrators, and payer policy analysts who need a national perspective on coding and documentation expectations for continuous unilateral thoracic fascial plane infusion services.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 64467 describes placement of one or more continuous infusions for a unilateral thoracic fascial plane block to provide pain relief in the chest area. The service includes any imaging guidance performed as part of the block.
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Service type: Continuous regional anesthesia infusional therapy for a unilateral thoracic fascial plane block
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Typical site of service: Hospital inpatient or outpatient procedure areas, ambulatory surgery centers, or other procedural suites where regional anesthesia and continuous infusion pumps can be managed
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 58-year-old male recovering from unilateral thoracic surgery (eg, right-sided thoracotomy for lobectomy) who reports severe ipsilateral chest wall pain uncontrolled by systemic opioids and multimodal oral analgesics. The surgical team requests regional analgesia for improved pain control, respiratory mechanics, and facilitation of early ambulation. In the perioperative block suite or operating room, an anesthesiologist or regional anesthesia specialist performs ultrasound-guided placement of a perineural catheter in a unilateral thoracic fascial plane (eg, erector spinae plane or serratus anterior plane) with initiation of a continuous local anesthetic infusion. The procedure includes sterile prep, local skin infiltration, real‑time imaging guidance, catheter tunneling as indicated, infusion pump programming, documentation of catheter tip location and infusion parameters, and patient education for pump care and signs of local anesthetic systemic toxicity. Postprocedure monitoring includes assessment of sensory level, motor function, respiratory status, catheter site checks, and adjustment of infusion rate for analgesic effect and side effects. Discharge planning documents outpatient infusion arrangements if applicable and instructions for catheter removal or follow‑up.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Procedure without modifier | Standard reporting when no modifier applies |