Medicare Benefits Schedule - Note TN.7.5

Items in the range 18234 - 18298 are intended to cover the injection of anaesthetic into the nerve or nerve sheath and not for the treatment of carpal tunnel or similar compression syndromes. 

Paravertebral nerve block item 18276 covers the provision of regional anaesthesia for surgical and related procedures for the management acute pain or of chronic pain related to radiculopathy. Blockade of lumbar paravertebral nerves should be claimed under 18276. Infiltration of the soft tissue of the paravertebral area for the treatment of other pain symptoms does not attract benefit under this item. Additionally, item 18276 does not cover zygo‑apophyseal joint blocks/injections. This procedure is covered under item 39013. 

Item 18292 may not be claimed for the injection of botulinum toxin, but may be claimed where a neurolytic agent (such as phenol) is used to treat the obturator nerve in patients receiving botulinum toxin injections under item 18354 for a dynamic foot deformity.

Related Items: 18234 18236 18238 18240 18242 18244 18248 18250 18252 18254 18256 18258 18260 18262 18264 18266 18268 18270 18272 18276 18278 18280 18282 18284 18286 18288 18292 18354 39013

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Botulinum Toxin Type A Purified Neurotixin Complex (Botox) or Clostridium Botulinum Type A Toxin-Haemagglutinin Complex (Dysport), injection of, for the treatment of dynamic equinus foot deformity (including equinovarus and equinovalgus) due to spasticity in an ambulant cerebral palsy patient, if:

(a)    the patient is at least 2 years of age; and

(b)    the treatment is for all or any of the muscles subserving one functional activity and supplied by one motor nerve,     with a maximum of 4 sets of injections for the patient on any one day (with a maximum of  2 sets of injections for     each lower limb), including all injections per set

(Anaes.)

Fee: $132.00 Benefit: 75% = $99.00 85% = $112.20

(See para TN.7.5, TN.11.1 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Multiple Operation Rule

Injection of one or more zygo-apophyseal or costo-transverse joints with one or more of contrast media, local anaesthetic or corticosteroid under image guidance

(Anaes.)

Fee: $115.35 Benefit: 75% = $86.55 85% = $98.05

(See para TN.7.5, TN.7.6, TN.8.4, TN.8.240 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Trigeminal nerve, primary branch (ophthalmic, maxillary or mandibular branches, excluding infraorbital nerve), injection of an anaesthetic agent or steroid, but not in association with a service to which an item in Group T8 applies, unless a targeted percutaneous technique is used 

(Anaes.)

Fee: $132.00 Benefit: 75% = $99.00 85% = $112.20

(See para TN.7.1, TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Trigeminal nerve, peripheral branch (including infraorbital nerve), injection of an anaesthetic agent, but not in association with a service to which an item in Group T8 applies, unless a targeted percutaneous technique is used

(Anaes.)

Fee: $66.10 Benefit: 75% = $49.60 85% = $56.20

(See para TN.7.1, TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Facial nerve, injection of an anaesthetic agent, other than a service associated with a service to which item 18240 applies, not in association with a service to which an item in Group T8 applies, unless the nerve block is performed using a targeted percutaneous approach

Fee: $39.80 Benefit: 75% = $29.85 85% = $33.85

(See para TN.7.1, TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

RETROBULBAR OR PERIBULBAR INJECTION of an anaesthetic agent

Fee: $98.95 Benefit: 75% = $74.25 85% = $84.15

(See para TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

GREATER OCCIPITAL NERVE, injection of an anaesthetic agent

(Anaes.)

Fee: $39.80 Benefit: 75% = $29.85 85% = $33.85

(See para TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Vagus nerve, injection of an anaesthetic agent, not in association with a service to which an item in Group T8 applies, unless the nerve block is performed using a targeted percutaneous approach

Fee: $106.60 Benefit: 75% = $79.95 85% = $90.65

(See para TN.7.1, TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

PHRENIC NERVE, injection of an anaesthetic agent

Fee: $93.70 Benefit: 75% = $70.30 85% = $79.65

(See para TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

SPINAL ACCESSORY NERVE, injection of an anaesthetic agent

Fee: $66.10 Benefit: 75% = $49.60 85% = $56.20

(See para TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Cervical plexus, injection of an anaesthetic agent, not in association with a service to which an item in Group T8 applies,  unless the nerve block is performed using a targeted percutaneous approach

Fee: $106.60 Benefit: 75% = $79.95 85% = $90.65

(See para TN.7.1, TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Brachial plexus, injection of an anaesthetic agent, not in association with a service to which an item in Group T8 applies, unless the nerve block is performed using a targeted percutaneous approach

Fee: $106.60 Benefit: 75% = $79.95 85% = $90.65

(See para TN.7.1, TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

SUPRASCAPULAR NERVE, injection of an anaesthetic agent

Fee: $66.10 Benefit: 75% = $49.60 85% = $56.20

(See para TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

INTERCOSTAL NERVE (single), injection of an anaesthetic agent

Fee: $66.10 Benefit: 75% = $49.60 85% = $56.20

(See para TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

INTERCOSTAL NERVES (multiple), injection of an anaesthetic agent

Fee: $93.70 Benefit: 75% = $70.30 85% = $79.65

(See para TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Ilio inguinal, iliohypogastric or genitofemoral nerves, one or more of, injections of an anaesthetic agent, not in association with a service to which an item in Group T8 applies,  unless the nerve block is performed using a targeted percutaneous approach

(Anaes.)

Fee: $66.10 Benefit: 75% = $49.60 85% = $56.20

(See para TN.7.1, TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Pudendal nerve or dorsal nerve (or both), injection of an anaesthetic agent, not in association with a service to which an item in Group T8 applies, unless the nerve block is performed using a targeted percutaneous approach

Fee: $106.60 Benefit: 75% = $79.95 85% = $90.65

(See para TN.7.1, TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Ulnar, radial or median nerve, main trunk of, one or more of, injections of an anaesthetic agent, not being associated with a brachial plexus block, not in association with a service to which an item in Group T8 applies,  unless the nerve block is performed using a targeted percutaneous approach

Fee: $66.10 Benefit: 75% = $49.60 85% = $56.20

(See para TN.7.1, TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

OBTURATOR NERVE, injection of an anaesthetic agent

Fee: $93.70 Benefit: 75% = $70.30 85% = $79.65

(See para TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

FEMORAL NERVE, injection of an anaesthetic agent

Fee: $93.70 Benefit: 75% = $70.30 85% = $79.65

(See para TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

SAPHENOUS, SURAL, POPLITEAL OR POSTERIOR TIBIAL NERVE, MAIN TRUNK OF, 1 or more of, injection of an anaesthetic agent

Fee: $66.10 Benefit: 75% = $49.60 85% = $56.20

(See para TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

PARAVERTEBRAL NERVES, injection of an anaesthetic agent, (multiple levels)

Fee: $132.00 Benefit: 75% = $99.00 85% = $112.20

(See para TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Sciatic nerve, injection of an anaesthetic agent, not in association with a service to which an item in Group T8 applies, unless the nerve block is performed using a targeted percutaneous approach

Fee: $93.70 Benefit: 75% = $70.30 85% = $79.65

(See para TN.7.1, TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Sphenopalatine ganglion, injection of an anaesthetic agent, not in association with a service to which an item in Group T8 applies, unless the nerve block is performed using a targeted percutaneous approach 

(Anaes.)

Fee: $132.00 Benefit: 75% = $99.00 85% = $112.20

(See para TN.7.1, TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

CAROTID SINUS, injection of an anaesthetic agent, as an independent percutaneous procedure

Fee: $106.60 Benefit: 75% = $79.95 85% = $90.65

(See para TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Cervical or thoracic sympathetic chain, injection of an anaesthetic agent 

(Anaes.)

Fee: $156.05 Benefit: 75% = $117.05 85% = $132.65

(See para TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Lumbar or pelvic sympathetic chain, injection of an anaesthetic agent 

(Anaes.)

Fee: $156.05 Benefit: 75% = $117.05 85% = $132.65

(See para TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Coeliac plexus or splanchnic nerves, injection of an anaesthetic agent, not in association with a service to which an item in Group T8 applies,  unless the nerve block is performed using a targeted percutaneous approach 

(Anaes.)

Fee: $156.05 Benefit: 75% = $117.05 85% = $132.65

(See para TN.7.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Nerve branch, destruction by a neurolytic agent under image guidance, other than a service to which another item in this Group applies or a service associated with the injection of botulinum toxin except a service to which item 18354 applies  

(Anaes.)

Fee: $132.00 Benefit: 75% = $99.00 85% = $112.20

(See para TN.7.5, TN.7.6 of explanatory notes to this Category)