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Orthopedic Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS :

Count Your Nerves to Determine Units

Published on Sat Sep 05, 2009

Question: What should I count for nerves? If my orthopedist did a median transcarpal study and an ulnar transcarpal study and documented results for the "right median motor nerve," "left median motor nerve," "right ulnar motor nerve," and "left ulnar nerve," does this qualify for four or two units? For instance, should I report three units for 95904? Texas Subscriber Answer: All of these nerve studies are of the wrist and usually contain sensory responses. Therefore, you should only report 95904 (Nerve conduction, amplitude and latency/velocity study, each nerve; sensory) x 4 units. Anatomically, we have a median nerve on the right upper extremity and also a separate and distinct median nerve on the left upper extremity. You should report an NCS on the two separate and distinct nerves with two service units. This means you would report motor NCS of the right median nerve, the left median nerve, the [...]
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