Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: A patient presented to a podiatry clinic with complaints of persistent numbness and tingling in both feet. The podiatrist performed a comprehensive nerve conduction study, which included testing of the sural, peroneal, deep peroneal, superficial peroneal, digital, tibial, medial plantar, and lateral plantar nerves in each foot. The study involved stimulating the nerves at various points and recording the electrical activity. The patient’s responses were slower than normal, suggesting damage to the nerves. After reviewing the results, the podiatrist diagnosed the patient with “neuropathy of the feet NOS.”

What codes should I assign for the encounter?

Alaska Subscriber

Answer: You’ll assign 95913 (Nerve conduction studies; 13 or more studies) to report the nerve conduction study (NCS). The podiatrist evaluated eight nerves on each foot for a total of 16 nerves studied.

By studying each nerve, the provider can test to determine which areas of the feet are affected, such as:

• Sural nerve: Provides sensation to the outside of the foot and lower leg
• Peroneal nerve: Controls leg muscles to lift the ankle and toes
• Tibial nerve: Controls calf and foot muscles
• Digital nerve: Provides sensation to the toes

You’ll then use G62.9 (Polyneuropathy, unspecified) to report the documented diagnosis. The code carries an additional term of neuropathy not otherwise specified (NOS), which lines up with the provider’s documentation.

Mike Shaughnessy, BA, CPC, Production Editor, AAPC