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Question: How do I know when to start 鈥渃ounting鈥� for time for anesthesia services?

Florida Subscriber

Answer: According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, anesthesia time is defined as the period during which an anesthesia practitioner is present with the patient. It starts when the anesthesia practitioner begins to prepare the patient for anesthesia services in the operating room or an equivalent area and ends when the anesthesia practitioner is no longer furnishing anesthesia services to the patient; that is, when the patient is safely placed under postoperative care.

The anesthesia provider should document the exact start and stop times. Rounding is not permitted when documenting times. Times should either be recorded in 24-hour time or a.m./p.m. and should clearly be documented. If there are any breaks or interruptions in care, those exact times should be documented as well.

Coders and billers should verify that start and stop times are accurately recorded and consistent across all documentation sources. If an anesthesia provider is relieved, the transition should be clearly documented, including the providers involved and the exact times of the change.

Julie McDaniel, MHA, CPC, CANPC, Contributing Writer