Chart Talk: Anesthesia Coding Conversations

Anesthesia Coding

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Hi! My name is Dianne C. Moseley. I’m a healthcare professional with over 32 years of experience in revenue cycle management. Throughout my career, I’ve worked in every area of RCM, gaining a true understanding of how each part connects to the bigger picture. I am currently certified through AAPC with my CPC, CPCO, CPMA, and CANPC. For the past 15 years, I’ve focused my expertise on anesthesia — a specialty I’m deeply passionate about. I currently work with a large anesthesia group, as a Senior Auditor serving as a Subject Matter Expert, where I focus on optimizing coding accuracy, compliance, education, and revenue integrity. My passion lies in education, process improvement and helping others to succeed. This blog is a space where I will share practical insights, tips, and real-world guidance on anesthesia coding. My goal is to make complex concepts clear, support continuous learning, and help others feel confident navigating the anesthesia coding landscape.

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  • General Anesthesia vs. MAC: What Coders and Auditors Should Really Be Looking For

  • When Life Throws the Curveball

    We think we have everything mapped out.We’ve set the goals.We’re chasing the dream.We’re finally stepping into the version of ourselves we’ve worked so hard to become. And then… life happens. A health scare.A family emergency.An unexpected responsibility.A season you didn’t plan for. Suddenly the dreams feel paused.The momentum slows.The plans get rearranged. It doesn’t seem…

  • Grateful for the Opportunity to Teach, Connect, and Grow

    Tonight I had the privilege of presenting on anesthesia coding for the AAPC Chesapeake-Virginia Beach Chapter with approximately 390 attendees, and I am truly grateful. Education and mentorship have always been passions of mine. Anesthesia coding is a specialty filled with nuance—where documentation details matter, clinical understanding is essential, and professional judgment plays a critical role.…

  • You Have to Be Uncomfortable to Grow

    Growth doesn’t happen in the places where we feel safe, confident, and in control. If it did, we’d all be exactly where we want to be already. The truth—one we don’t always like to admit—is that real growth requires discomfort. It asks us to sit in uncertainty, to stretch beyond what feels familiar, and to…

  • Updated Hernia Decision Tree by the ASA

    *Anesthesia for hernia repairs in the lower abdomen not otherwise specified; younger than 1 year of age   – 00834 Anesthesia for hernia repairs in the lower abdomen not otherwise specified; infants younger that 37 weeks gestation age at birth and younger than 50 weeks gestational age at time of surgery  –  00836

  • Sacroiliac Joint Nerve Block (CPT 64451): A Coding and Clinical Overview

    IntroductionThe sacroiliac (SI) joint is a well-recognized source of low back and buttock pain. Due to its complex anatomy and variable innervation, diagnosing SI joint–mediated pain can be challenging. Sacroiliac joint nerve blocks play a critical role in both diagnosing and treating this condition. CPT code 64451 was created to more accurately describe injections targeting…

  • Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest (HCA): When Is ASA 00563 Appropriate?

    Hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) is one of the most complex and high-risk techniques used in cardiac and major vascular surgery. Because of its complexity—and its frequent confusion with hypothermia alone—it is also an area where anesthesia coding errors commonly occur.This post breaks down what HCA is, how it differs from hypothermia without arrest, and when ASA code 00563…

  • Brachial Plexus, Axillary, and Suprascapular Nerve Block

    Brachial Plexus – CPT 64415/64416 A brachial plexus nerve block is a regional anesthesia technique where local anesthetic is injected near the brachial plexus (a network of nerves for the arm) in the neck, above the collarbone, or armpit to numb the entire arm for surgery or to manage chronic pain, often as alternative to general.  When…

  • AAPC Mentor/Mentee Program

    Many people don’t realize that AAPC offers a Mentor/Mentee Program. I’m proud to say that I am signed up as an AAPC Mentor, and I would love to connect with and support others in achieving their goals—whether that’s certification guidance, career direction, or simply encouragement from someone who’s been there. Or maybe you would like…

  • Looking Back at 2025 — and Walking Confidently Into 2026

    2025 was a year of deep reflection for me. It was the year I finally slowed down enough to ask myself some very hard questions: Some of the answers I uncovered weren’t what I expected. And honestly, it took nearly the entire year before I fully realized what was missing. What I learned is this:…