Monitoring Anesthesia Services

Monitored Anesthesia

Monitored anesthesia care involves intraoperative monitoring by a physician or qualified individual under the medical direction of a physician or of the patient’s vital physiological signs in the anticipation of the need for administration of general anesthesia or of the development of adverse physiological patient reaction to the surgical procedure. It also includes the performance of a pre-anesthetic examination and evaluation, prescription of anesthesia care required, administration of any necessary oral or parenteral medications (e.g., atropine, demerol, valium) and provision of indicated post-operative anesthesia care.

Payment is made under the personally performed rate if the physician personally performs the monitored anesthesia care (see Payment at Personally Performed Rate). Payment is made under the medically directed payment rate if the physician medically directs four or fewer concurrent cases and the monitored anesthesia care represents one or more of these concurrent cases (see Payment at Medically Directed Rate).

Anesthesiologists use modifier QS to report monitored anesthesia care cases as informational only.

Related Content

• CMS Internet-Only-Manual, Publication 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 12

Reviewed 10/25/2024