Ask Devona: When to bill for PCA

Article Overview

This short article answers a coding and reimbursement question about pain management services in a hospital setting when a patient is receiving patient-controlled analgesia but is not in a post-operative situation. It is aimed at coders, billers, and clinicians who need general guidance on whether the service is considered separately reportable and what kind of physician documentation is involved. The discussion stays at a high level and focuses on the distinction between the therapy being used and the management of the pain problem.