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Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Cranial Nerve Code Describes Laryngeal EMG

Published on Fri Aug 01, 2003

Question: What is the proper code for bilateral EMG of the laryngeal muscle?

Montana Subscriber  Answer: The laryngeal nerves, which supply the laryngeal muscles, are branches of the 10th cranial nerve. Therefore, for bilateral electromyography (EMG) testing, the appropriate code is 95868 (Needle electromyography; cranial nerve supplied muscles, bilateral). Because the code descriptor specifies "bilateral," you needn't append modifier -50 (Bilateral procedure). For EMG testing on one side only, the appropriate code is 95867 (... cranial nerve supplied muscle[s], unilateral).
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