Wiki Nerve Conduction Studies/NCS

[kimberly514]

Debate in my office on counting Nerve Conduction Studies. I know they are "per study" and not "per nerve", but I'm looking for some advice on how to code (count) the following. How many studies do you see here?

Motor Nerve Conduction Study

Median Left
Median Right
Ulnar Left
Ulnar Right

Sensory Nerve Conduction Study

Median Left
Median Right
Ulnar Left
Ulnar Right
Radial Left
Radial Right
Palmar Left- Median Palm and Ulnar Palm
Palmar Right- Median Palm and Ulnar Palm

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[stacymoch]

Always refer to CPT

As coders, we've heard it a thousand times, so I'm going to say it again; refer to the CPT guidelines. Check the Appendix J section of CPT and use the "Type of Study/Maximum Number of Studies" table. This table has helped me many times.

Hope this helps you plead your case.