Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

A Janz syndrome case highlights your choices when the right code is unclear. When test results are inconclusive, deciding whether to code the symptoms or the suspected diagnosis can cost you if you choose incorrectly. Follow this real-world case to understand your options, whether or not your neurologist provides you with a clear diagnosis. Review the Case Scenario: The neurologist performed a diagnostic electroencephalography (EEG) study on a teenage girl with complaints of bilateral arm jerks when she wakes up in the morning. The jerking is increasing and is starting to cause her to drop things. The neurologist's EEG report indicates the presenting problem as myoclonic jerks and abnormal EEG findings with clinically confirmed Janz syndrome. Don't Automatically Turn to 333.2 Your first instinct might be to simply report myoclonic jerk symptoms (333.2, Myoclonus) as either the primary or secondary diagnosis code. But first refer to Section IV L. of [...]