Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Our 4 questions will point you to the best diagnosis and injection codes.If your neurologist or pain specialist administers greater occipital nerve blocks, don't let coding turn into a headache. Verify specifics about the patient's headache and the service your provider offered to pinpoint the correct diagnosis and procedure codes every time.Where Is the Occipital Nerve?The greater occipital nerve (GON) originates from the posterior medial branch of the C2 spinal nerve and provides sensory innervations to the posterior area of the scalp extending to the top of the head. Physicians typically inject the GON at the level of the superior nuchal line just above the base of the skull for occipital headaches or neck pain.Tip: Some physician practices include a small illustration in the chart that the physician can mark with various injection sites. Including this type of tool helps your physician clearly document the injection location, which helps you [...]