Watch edits for injection, neuroplasty and neurostim codes The latest National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits, effective April 1, once again target injection codes. NCCI Edits version 10.1 bundles 17 neurological testing codes into the nerve injection codes (somatic nerve injections [64400-64484], sympathetic nerve injections [64505-64530], and somatic and sympathetic nerve destruction [64600-64681]). NCCI also bundles these 17 codes into neuroplasty procedures 64702-64727 and the neurostimulator placement and implantation codes 64550-64595. NCCI Bundles Pump Code Maintenance NCCI 10.1 also bundles 96530 (Refilling and maintenance of implantable pump or reservoir for drug delivery, systemic [e.g., intravenous, intra-arterial]) into the pump analysis codes 62367 (Electronic analysis of programmable, implanted pump for intrathecal or epidural drug infusion [includes evaluation of reservoir status, alarm status, drug prescription status]; without reprogramming) and 62368 (... with reprogramming).
The 17 codes that are bundled into these procedures are:
"You almost have to refill the pump when you're adjusting it, but Medicare apparently doesn't want us to charge separately for it," says Barbara Johnson, CPC, MCP, a California coding consultant. "The edits state 'misuse of column 2 code with column 1 code' as the reason for this pairing."