Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

When in need of coverage information on NCS and other procedures, readers with Web access can often search for carriers' local medical review policies (LMRPs) by visiting lmrp.net or by using an Internet search engine such as Google (www.google.com).

On lmrp.net, visitors should select the "search" option from the top of the home page. From there, you can search by carrier and keywords for specific topics. If you pull down the contractor box to carrier, a pop-up box appears. Pull this box down to show your carrier of choice. For instance, choosing "BCBS Alabama (00510)" from the contractor pull-down menu and typing "95900" in the keyword field will provide a match for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alabama's policy on NCS.

To use Google or other search engines, simply enter the phrase "CPT" in the search field, the CPT code(s) that you wish to learn about, plus the name of your carrier. Often, you will find more than a single match, and you may have to spend some time sifting through the results. In return, however, you can often find a broader variety of information than that available on lmrp.net.

If searching for Aetna USA's policy regarding NCS mentioned in the feature article above, type: CPT + 95900 + Aetna. This search will provide a link to Aetna's coverage policy bulletin for nerve conduction velocity studies (95900-95904). The same link also provides Aetna's guidelines regarding the frequency of testing allowable, as well as policies on F-wave and H-reflex testing. Results for other insurers (e.g., Noridian, Cahaba, Georgia Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield) provide similar information.