Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Count each level and check for your payers' preferences.When reporting facet joint injections, make sure you know the spinal levels that the pain management specialist treated and also what your payers' preferences are for the maximum number and frequency of the injections that can be given. Whether the facet injections are diagnostic or therapeutic, you should count each level and/or both sides. Read on for more advice on reporting these common procedures.Don't Let Intent Throw You You'll notice that the terms 'diagnostic' and 'therapeutic' are already in facet joint injection code descriptors, as follows, but don't be too overzealous about those descriptors: 64490 (Injection[s], diagnostic or therapeutic agent, paravertebral facet [zygapophyseal] joint [or nerves innervating that joint] with image guidance [fluoroscopy or CT], cervical or thoracic; single level) 64493 (Injection[s], diagnostic or therapeutic agent, paravertebral facet [zygapophyseal] joint [or nerves innervating that joint] with image guidance [fluoroscopy or CT], lumbar [...]