Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Knowing and reporting the differences between tests protects your reimbursement. When your neurologist performs a non-invasive test on a patient -- such as having the patient repeat a series of words or reciting the months of the year backwards -- has he performed a separately reimbursable service, or an included E/M? Recognizing the difference between neurobehavioral, neuropsychiatric, and E/M services can yield your practice proper Medicare reimbursement by following this checklist. "Coders have to watch that our physicians are truly performing tests that are separately reimbursable and not included in the E/M service," says Lynn McCormack, CPC, with HCA Physician Services in Las Vegas. Use E/M If Documentation Is Lacking, MMSE Is Done on Own Do not use 96116 (Neurobehavioral status exam [clinical assessment of thinking, reasoning and judgment, e.g., acquired knowledge, attention, language, memory, planning and problem solving, and visual spatial abilities], per hour of the psychologist's or physician's time, both [...]