bobbysmom117
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Are there any coders out there who bill for Neuropsychology Services? I am interested in getting some information on the codes your Psychologists are using to report WADA Activation tests associated with Epilepsy. 95958 is the CPT listing for the service. The WADA test is very specific, and is done to identify language, memory and the dominant side of the brain prior to surgical intervention.
I have been told that there are some practioners out there using the Neuropsychology testing codes 96116, 96118, 96119, 96120 instead of the 95958 code (which may be reserved for MDs by some insurers). Language and memory are tested by utilizing specific batteries of tests in these traditional Neuropsych tests. The patient is fully awake, face to face with the psychologist and not medicated. This way, the test results are not compromised.
The WADA is very different in that the patient is under anesthesia, and the hemispheres of the brain are "put to sleep" at alternate intervals to identify dominance, language centers and memory centers.
I strongly disagree with those who are substituting 96118 for 95958. Yet my psychologists want to try coding for WADAs in this fashion. I am very much opposed to this way of coding for WADA services. There aren't too many Npsych coders out there, so any info you can share would be very much appreciated.
I have been told that there are some practioners out there using the Neuropsychology testing codes 96116, 96118, 96119, 96120 instead of the 95958 code (which may be reserved for MDs by some insurers). Language and memory are tested by utilizing specific batteries of tests in these traditional Neuropsych tests. The patient is fully awake, face to face with the psychologist and not medicated. This way, the test results are not compromised.
The WADA is very different in that the patient is under anesthesia, and the hemispheres of the brain are "put to sleep" at alternate intervals to identify dominance, language centers and memory centers.
I strongly disagree with those who are substituting 96118 for 95958. Yet my psychologists want to try coding for WADAs in this fashion. I am very much opposed to this way of coding for WADA services. There aren't too many Npsych coders out there, so any info you can share would be very much appreciated.