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Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Skip 64565 for NMES

Published on Wed Apr 27, 2005

Question: Can I code for neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)?


Colorado Subscriber
Answer: Yes, you may report NMES using 97032 (Application of a modality to one or more areas; electrical stimulation [manual], each 15 minutes) for electrical spinal cord treatments that require "constant attendance" and, therefore, direct patient-to-provider contact, according to CPT. You should not report an electrical stimulation code such as 97014 (... electrical stimulation [unattended]) because it refers to a therapy modality that does not require the presence of a clinician.

And although electrical spinal cord treatment is "neuromuscular electrical stimulation," you should not report it using 64565 (Percutaneous implantation of neurostimulator electrodes; neuromuscular).
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