Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

You'll need more than 1 code to capture drug and injection reimbursement. If you've noticed the Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) ties your hands by bundling 64614 (Chemodenervation of extremity[s] and/or trunk muscle[s] [e.g., for dystonia, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis]) and other chemodenervation codes (64610-64640) into a number of other procedures, you're not alone. When your neurologist performs chemodenervation procedures, you have several coding hurdles to jump before you see any reimbursement. Medical necessity issues, multiple J code options, and Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits could all trip you up. Follow these expert chemodenervation injection code tips so you don't fall victim to denials. Start With the Proper J Code You'll easily recognize a chemodenervation procedure from your neurologist's documentation. Neurologists use chemodenervation to temporarily interrupt pain signals between nerves and muscles, explains Leslie Johnson, CCS-P, CPC, quality control auditor for Duke University Health System and owner of the billing and [...]