kayroserey@cox.net
Networker
pulse radial frequency technique rhizotomy....no laminectomy.
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Wiki here's a good one for you
- Thread starter kayroserey@cox.net
- Start date
marvelh
Expert
Per CPT all pulsed RF is reported with 64999
Walker22
Guest
Also, keep in mind that most insurances consider pulsed RF as experimental and may not pay for it....
brockorama01
Guest
To add more words to the previous two replies...they are both absolutely correct.
RF of medial branch nerves for spinal pain is the destruction by burning of medial branch nerves. To kill a nerve by burning requires a RF needle temperate of 180 degrees for a certain period of seconds.
Pulsed RF is the buring of nerves at a lower temperate (around 140 degrees?). It is proportedly a more effective means of reducing spinal pain. However, the coding issue is that since the RF needle isn't at "nerve killing" temperature, can you call it nerve destruction?
The general answer is "no". Hence, use 64999
RF of medial branch nerves for spinal pain is the destruction by burning of medial branch nerves. To kill a nerve by burning requires a RF needle temperate of 180 degrees for a certain period of seconds.
Pulsed RF is the buring of nerves at a lower temperate (around 140 degrees?). It is proportedly a more effective means of reducing spinal pain. However, the coding issue is that since the RF needle isn't at "nerve killing" temperature, can you call it nerve destruction?
The general answer is "no". Hence, use 64999