Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Question: A patient complained of a numb, aching, and burning feeling in the left hand after a trauma, so our provider requested a preconfigured nerve conduction testing. There was weakness of thumb abduction and wasting of the thenar eminence. How do we report this nerve conduction? What modifiers can we use?

Wisconsin Subscriber

Answer: CPT^® code 95905 (Motor and/or sensory nerve conduction, using preconfigured electrode array[s], amplitude and latency/velocity study, each limb, includes F-wave study when performed, with interpretation and report) is the right approach to reporting preconfigured nerve conduction studies.

Code 95905 is exempt from modifiers 50 (Bilateral procedure) and 51 (Multiple procedures), so do not append modifiers 50 or 51 to 95905. You may append modifier 26 (Professional component) to 95905 if you do not have the preconfigured device in the office and your neurologist provides only the interpretation and report. Also note that you report 95905 based on one unit of service for each extremity tested, not per each nerve.

Note: Do not report 95905 in conjunction with 95885, 95886, 95907-95913