Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Knowing how to submit claims correctly can ease your pain.Coding for whiplash diagnosis and treatment is usually pretty straightforward. Watch for times to take extra care, however, especially if the patient's symptoms persist despite conservative therapy and warrant more extensive treatment.Watch for Move From Therapy to ScansWhen a patient presents with whiplash symptoms, your pain management specialist will conduct a thorough exam and will often order neck x-rays to rule out fractures.First steps: Once the pain specialist diagnoses whiplash (847.0, Sprains and strains of other and unspecified parts of back; neck sprain), he typically will prescribe conservative treatment. Common options include physical therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and muscle relaxants. Some patients may also benefit from wearing a soft cervical collar or by using a portable traction device.If conservative treatment fails, the physician might order additional diagnostic imaging tests. These could include:CT scans -- 70490 (Computed tomography, soft tissue neck; [...]