Ask Dr. Z

Can you please help us decide what this pain injection charge should be? The report is suggesting 20600, which we are questioning. "A 22 gauge Quincke needle was placed at the posterior medial aspect of the right lateral L6-S1 articulation from a posterior approach with discussion of the lowermost disc as L6-S1. 0.3 ml Isovue-300, 0.4 ml ropivacaine 0.5% and 20 mg triamcinolone were injected at this site. The needle was removed. There were no apparent immediate complications of the procedure. Follow-up was planned with the referring service. The patient was able to walk following the procedure. Patient denied the possibility of pregnancy with last menstrual period approximately 3 weeks prior to the procedure and with serum hCG level less than 2."