Wiki Nerve Conduction Studies and EMG's

[Hdean]

I'm new to billing nerve conduction studies and EMG's and I'm looking for a little help.

95885 Needle electromyography, each extremity, with related paraspinal areas, when performed, done with nerve conduction, amplitude and latency/velocity study; limited

95886 Needle electromyography, each extremity, with related paraspinal areas, when performed, done with nerve conduction, amplitude and latency/velocity study; complete, five or more muscles studied, innervated by three or more nerves or four or more spinal levels

I've been trying to see what classifies as paraspinal areas and I'm not getting a flat out answer. I've googled it and paraspinal muscles pop up. Can I only bill those two codes if muscles/nerves in the back are part of the study?

 

[mhstrauss]

I'm new to billing nerve conduction studies and EMG's and I'm looking for a little help.

95885 Needle electromyography, each extremity, with related paraspinal areas, when performed, done with nerve conduction, amplitude and latency/velocity study; limited

95886 Needle electromyography, each extremity, with related paraspinal areas, when performed, done with nerve conduction, amplitude and latency/velocity study; complete, five or more muscles studied, innervated by three or more nerves or four or more spinal levels

I've been trying to see what classifies as paraspinal areas and I'm not getting a flat out answer. I've googled it and paraspinal muscles pop up. Can I only bill those two codes if muscles/nerves in the back are part of the study?

It is not necessary to test paraspinals to bill these codes. "With related paraspinals, when performed" means that if, for example, an upper extremity study is being done, and the cervical paraspinals are tested along with the muscles in the upper extremities, then the cervicals are included in the 95885/6, not separately billable. Same for lower extremity with the lumbar paraspinals.

 

[Hdean]

Thank you so very much!