TENS test

[jennifersellards@hotmail.com]

I do the billing for a pain management office and our provider is billing TENS for two different areas with a 64550. My question is should this be billed with two units or should I put a 76 modifier on the second unit?

 

[TIFFANYCHANEL02@GMAIL.COM]

If the procedure was done in two different areas combine ( LT ,OR RT) COMBINE the lines with modifier -50 AND qty . should be 1

 

[Bjohnse1]

If by TENS you mean that the provider is doing e-stim, you have a couple of options. If it is an unattended modality then it should possibly be billed as 97014 or G0283. These are both codes that can not be billed as units, regardless of time spent or areas treated. If the modality is attended, then 97032 may be a better option. This code can be billed in units, but only based on time. Again, areas treated is not a determinig factor of units. and with any of these codes, using 64550 would be inappropriate as that code is intended to be used only for placing the electrodes on the patient and then sending them home with a TENS unit.

 

[Bjohnse1]

This next part is taken directly from the January 2002 CPT Assistant. 'From a coding perspective, code 64550 is intended to report the initial application of a neurostimulator (TENS unit) in which electrodes are placed on the skin by the physician, and the patient takes the unit home. Code 97014 is intended to report electrical stimulation applied by the provider in, for example, the office or other facility. Code 97014 is not a time-based code and should be reported one time, regardless of the number of areas treated.'

 

[jennifersellards@hotmail.com]

What if one area is the left leg then the left shoulder? Should I just use just lt modifier for that and double the units?