CPT® provides a single code to report endotracheal intubation—31500 Intubation, endotracheal, emergency procedure —but application of this code isn’t always straightforward.
2018/2019 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T41.205A. Adverse effect of unspecified general anesthetics, initial encounter. T41.205A is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.
Z99.11 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM Z99.11 became effective on October 1, 2021. This is the American ICD-10-CM version of Z99.11 - other international versions of ICD-10 Z99.11 may differ. Z codes represent reasons for encounters.
NCCI guidelines confirm, “Airway access is necessary for general anesthesia and is not separately reportable.” Endotracheal intubation is bundled in (included in) pediatric and neonatal critical care service codes (99293-99296).
CPT provides a single code to report endotracheal intubation – 31500. Per CPT and National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) guidelines, 31500 describes an emergency endotracheal intubation and should not be reported for elective endotracheal intubation.
31500Services such as endotracheal intubation (CPT code 31500) and the insertion and placement of a flow directed catheter e.g., Swan-Ganz (CPT code 93503) ), A-line placement (36620), CVP placement (36556) are not bundled into the critical care codes.
Endotracheal tube (ET tube or ETT) This has been the standard airway device used during general anesthesia and is what most people think of when they talk about intubation and breathing tubes.
ICD-10-PCS Code 0BH17EZ - Insertion of Endotracheal Airway into Trachea, Via Natural or Artificial Opening - Codify by AAPC.