Failure to document frequent physician monitoring for medically directed cases. Not documenting monitoring at intervals is another common omission. Many practices establish a timeline on the anesthesia record on which the anesthesiologist can record monitoring by marking and initialing the times that he or she was in the room. In many cases, documenting monitoring one or two times per hour will be adequate. Initiation of vent settings is part of the anesthesia service and thus not billable.
Intubation is included in the base units for the anesthesia service regardless of the method used.
Again, this is not separately billable since it is an included service. Fractional time units are the result. Few hospitals still use water baths for lithotripsies. Billing for lines placed by nurse anesthetists who are not employees of the anesthesiologist . The anesthesiologist may not bill for supervising that surgical service.