R 418.10915
R 418.10915 Billing for anesthesia services.
Cite as Mich. Admin. Code R 418.10915
Rule 915. (1) Anesthesia services must consist of 2 components, base units and time units.
Each anesthesia procedure code is assigned a value for reporting the base units. The base units
for an anesthesia procedure must be as specified in the publication titled “RBRVS DataManager
Online” as adopted by reference in R 418.10107. The anesthesia codes, base units, and
instructions for billing the anesthesia service must be provided separate from these rules on the
agency’s website, https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/wdca.
(2) When billing for both the anesthesiologist and a certified registered nurse anesthetist or
a certified anesthesiologist assistant, the anesthesia procedure code must be listed on 2 lines of
the CMS 1500 claim form with the appropriate modifier on each line.
(3) One of the following modifiers must be added to the anesthesia procedure code to
determine the appropriate payment for the time units:
(a) Modifier -AA indicates the anesthesia service is administered by the anesthesiologist.
(b) Modifier -QK indicates the anesthesiologist has provided medical direction for not
more than 4 qualified individuals being a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), certified
anesthesiologist assistant (AA), or resident. The CRNA, AA, or resident may be employed by a
hospital, the anesthesiologist, or self-employed.
(c) Modifier –AD indicates an anesthesiologist has provided medical supervision for more
than 4 qualified individuals being either a certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified
anesthesiologist assistant, or anesthesiology resident.
(d) Modifier -QX indicates the certified registered nurse anesthetist or certified
anesthesiologist assistant has administered the procedure under the medical direction of the
anesthesiologist.
(e) Modifier -QZ indicates the certified registered nurse anesthetist has administered the
complete anesthesia service without medical direction of an anesthesiologist.
(4) Total anesthesia units are calculated by adding the anesthesia base units to the anesthesia
time units.
(5) Anesthesia services may be administered by any of the following:
(a) A licensed doctor of dental surgery.
(b) A licensed doctor of medicine.
(c) A licensed doctor of osteopathy.
(d) A licensed doctor of podiatry.
(e) A certified registered nurse anesthetist.
(f) A licensed anesthesiology resident.
(g) A certified anesthesiologist assistant.
(6) If a surgeon provides the anesthesia service, the surgeon shall only be reimbursed the
base units for the anesthesia procedure.
(7) If a provider bills physical status modifiers, the documentation must be included with
the bill to support the additional risk factors. When billed, the physical status modifiers are
assigned unit values as defined in table 10915, as follows:
Table 10915 Anesthesiology Physical Status Modifiers Unit Value
P1: A normal healthy patient = 0
P2: A patient who has a mild systemic disease = 0
P3: A patient who has a severe systemic disease = 1
P4: A patient who has a severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life = 2
P5: A moribund patient who is expected not to survive without the operation = 3
P6: A declared brain-dead patient whose organs are being removed for donor
purposes = 0
(8) Procedure code 99140 must be billed as an add-on procedure if an emergency
condition, as defined in R 418.10108, complicates anesthesia. Procedure code 99140 must be
assigned 2 anesthesia units. Documentation supporting the emergency must be attached to the
bill.
(9) If a pre-anesthesia evaluation is performed and surgery is not subsequently performed,
the service must be reported as an evaluation and management service.