D9248 — Oral (non-IV) conscious sedation
D9248 is sedation given as a tablet or a liquid rather than through a vein, common for children and very anxious adults.
There are eight codes for anaesthesia and sedation and they are not interchangeable. This page covers this one; the anaesthesia and sedation guide covers the treatment they all share.
What follows is the detail behind the number: the conditions the code sets, its typical fee, its usual benefit treatment, and a code-by-code comparison with its closest neighbours.
D9248 against the codes beside it
D9243 — IV moderate (conscious) sedation — each added 15 min: It is the each-additional line that follows it.
D9239 — IV moderate (conscious) sedation — first 15 min: It covers the first fifteen minutes of intravenous moderate sedation, where the patient stays conscious but deeply relaxed.
D9230 — Nitrous oxide (laughing gas): It is nitrous oxide, the inhaled gas that takes the edge off anxiety without putting the patient under.
D9223 — Deep sedation / general anesthesia (per 15 min): It covers each further fifteen minutes of deep sedation or general anaesthesia after the first.
D9248 sits in a group of eight codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. It is worth asking the practice to point to which of these applies. The fees are not close, and the wording is, which is precisely the combination that produces disputed bills.
Every code in this group
These codes describe the same broad procedure and differ in one respect each. Each has its own page with its own fee range and coverage notes.
Questions about D9248
What procedure is D9248?
The procedure behind the number is oral (non-IV) conscious sedation, filed under adjunctive general services.
What should I expect to pay for D9248?
Expect $200–$600. Ask for the number in writing, because the code carries no fee of its own and every practice sets its own.
Will my plan pay for D9248?
Most plans include it under adjunctive benefits, 0–80%. A pre-treatment estimate is the only way to know your own number in advance.
What is the difference between D9248 and D9243?
D9243 is IV moderate (conscious) sedation, each added 15 min: it is the each-additional line that follows it. Because that is the only difference, a reviewer who disagrees with it simply reprices the claim to D9243 rather than refusing it.
Also known as: dental sedation, laughing gas, nitrous oxide, IV sedation, general anaesthesia, dental anxiety.