Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Division of Medical Assistance
600 Washington Street
Boston, MA  02111

MassHealth
Physician Bulletin 71
OCTOBER 1999

TO:      Physicians Participating in MassHealth FROM:      Mark E. Reynolds, Acting Commissioner RE:      REPORTING ANESTHESIA TIME

Clarification                       The Division is clarifying its policy about reimbursement for anesthesia time.  Effective immediately, anesthesia time starts when the anesthesiologist begins to prepare the patient for the induction of anesthesia in the operating room or in an equivalent area.  Anesthesia time ends when the anesthesiologist is no longer in personal attendance; that is, when the patient may be safely placed under postoperative supervision.

The Division intends to modify its regulations within the next few months to reflect this clarification.

Billing                               As a reminder, you must specify in Item 24C on claim form no. 5 the time the anesthesia service begins and ends.  Enter time units only in Item
24F.  The computation of total anesthesia units automatically includes base units.  Time units for anesthesia are measured in 15-minute periods. One time unit equals 15 minutes of anesthesia services or fraction thereof, if the fraction is at least five minutes.

Questions                         If you have any questions about the information in this bulletin, please contact the Unisys Provider Services Department at (617) 628-4141 or
1-800-325-5231.