Arthrocentesis, Aspiration and/or Injections
Starting from Jan. 1, 2015,
there are three new CPT codes to report Arthrocentesis, Aspiration and/or injection
procedures when ultrasound guidance is used.
The new codes are (20604, 20606
& 20611):
1. 20604—Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, small joint or
bursa (e.g., fingers, toes); with ultrasound guidance, with permanent recording
and reporting.
(Do not report 20600–20604 in
conjunction with 76942)
2. 20606—Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, intermediate
joint or bursa (e.g., temporomandibular, acromioclavicular, wrist, elbow or
ankle, olecranon bursa); with ultrasound guidance, with permanent recording and
reporting; and
(Do not report 20605–20606 in
conjunction with 76942)
3. 20611—Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, large joint or
bursa (e.g., shoulder, hip, knee, subacromial bursa); with ultrasound guidance,
with permanent recording and reporting.
(Do not report 20610–20611 in
conjunction with 76942)
CPT code series 20600, 20605 & 20610
have not been deleted and are still applicable codes to use when an
injection/aspiration has been performed.
CPT 20604 Procedure
The
physician inserts a needle through the skin of a patient and into a small joint
or bursa, E.g. the fingers or toes, and then uses the syringe attachment to the
needle to remove fluid or he may inject a drug into the joint for therapeutic
purpose.
The physician also uses ultrasound guidance
with permanent recording and reporting to perform this service.
·
When the physician performs Arthrocentesis, aspiration
and or injection of a small joint or bursa, without ultrasound guidance, use
code 20600
CPT 20606 Procedure
The physician inserts a needle through the
skin of a patient and into an intermediate joint or bursa, E.g. The wrist,
elbow, ankle, temporomandibular & acromioclavicular Joints and then uses
the syringe attachment to the needle to remove fluid or he may inject a drug
into the joint for therapeutic purposes.
The physician also uses ultrasound guidance
with permanent recording and reporting to perform this service.
·
When the
physician performs Arthrocentesis, aspiration and or injection of an
intermediate joint or bursa, without ultrasound guidance, use cpt 20605
CPT 20611 Procedure
The physician inserts a needle through the
skin of a patient and into a Large joint or bursa, E.g. The shoulder, Hip &
Knee joints and then uses the syringe attachment to the needle to remove fluid
or he may inject a drug into the joint for therapeutic purposes.
The physician also uses ultrasound guidance
with permanent recording and reporting to perform this service.
When the
physician performs Arthrocentesis, aspiration and or injection of a large joint
or bursa, without ultrasound guidance, use cpt 20610.
