Epidural Steroid Injections (ESI) and Radio Frequency Ablations (RFA) are standard medical procedures in personal injury, especially for motor vehicle crashes and slip-and-fall cases. Each procedure has a five-digit Common Procedural Terminology (CPT) code designated by the American Medical Association[1].

When you look at a past medical bill, you should see a date of service and a code or description for the work of the physician to perform this procedure. You may also see a CPT code for “procedural sedation” if the physician directs the operating room staff to administer sedatives and analgesics. You may see a separate bill if an anesthesiologist was used to administer sedation and/or anesthesia. There will be a separate bill for the facility that completed the procedure, usually an outpatient facility.

The bills and codes for steroid injections and radiofrequency ablation can be confusing. Each bill will come from a different provider, physician, anesthesia and facility. There may be bills for assistants to the surgeon as well. Understanding what things can be billed for, for example, fluoroscopy, medical supplies and medications, depends on many factors.

If you would like to know more about past medical bills or future medical costs, please contact Dawn at 702-544-2159.

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[1]  https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/cpt      accessed March 16, 2022