Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert
Master Diagnoses for Facet Joint Injections
Question: Will I have trouble receiving reimbursement for facet joint injections 64470-64476 with the diagnosis of facet syndrome, 724.8?
Oregon Subscriber
Answer: In some states, such as Oregon, you may have trouble being reimbursed by Medicare with a diagnosis of 724.8 (Other symptoms referable to back). But, offices in other geographic areas, such as Northern California, won't have a problem. Carriers differ greatly regarding the correct ICD-9 codes for facet joint injections - some even require 721.3 (Lumbosacral spondylosis without myelopathy).
Your best strategy is to visit your Medicare carrier's Web site and pull up its local coverage determination (LCD) to review the diagnoses your payer will allow to support medical necessity for facet joint injections.
Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert
- More Isn't Necessarily Better for EDX Testing
Bilateral conditions may require the neurologist to forego recommended testing limits
If you're reporting multiple electrodiagnostic [...] - Watch Your Claims Frequency For EDX Testing
Rapidly developing diseases may give cause for more frequent tests
When reporting electrodiagnostic (EDX) tests, you [...] - Correction:
Turn to 64614 to Treat Spastic Hemiparesis
The February 2005 issue of Neurology Coding Alert contained an error.
The answer to the reader [...] - Choosing an E/M Level Is Easier With These 3 Q&A's
You can receive MDM credit for test orders, even if the patient refuses the test
If [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Time Matters for Complex Neurostimulators
Question: Should I consider time when choosing a neurostimulator programming code?
New York Subscriber
Answer: In [...] - You Be the Coder:
Can You Report Perception Threshold Testing?
Question: Is there a code to report current perception threshold testing? I can't find anything [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Written Consult Request Isn't Mandatory
Question: We've heard conflicting information about the requirement for a written request before our physician [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Observation Status Is Outpatient
Question: When providing a consult for a patient admitted to observation, should we report the [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Fluoroscopy Matches With Diskography Injection
Question: Can I report 76005-26 with 62290?
South Carolina Subscriber
Answer: You'll almost always have a [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Master Diagnoses for Facet Joint Injections
Question: Will I have trouble receiving reimbursement for facet joint injections 64470-64476 with the diagnosis [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Call on -50 for Bilateral H-Reflex
Question: Are codes 95934 and 95936 unilateral or bilateral? Can I charge extra if the [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
More Than 3 EMGs May Mean Difficulties
Question: Can I report one unit of 95861, two units of 95900, and three units [...]
