Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: Our pain management specialist performed pulsed radiofrequency ablation to the right occipital nerve. How should I code this procedure?


Arizona Subscriber

 
Answer: CPT does not include a specific code for pulsed radiofrequency for any nerve, including the greater occipital nerve. Because of this, you should report 64999 (Unlisted procedure, nervous system).

Set the comparison: Providers often look to the comparative "standard" radiofrequency destruction code for valuation of pulsed radiofrequency. In this case, standard RF of the greater occipital nerve would be reported with 64640 (Destruction by neurolytic agent; other peripheral nerve or branch), which is valued in the 2007 RBRVS as 6.82 in an office setting and 4.82 in a facility setting. Answers to You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were provided by Scott Groudine, MD, an Albany, N.Y., anesthesiologist; Barbara J. Johnson, CPC, MPC, owner of Real Code Inc. in Moreno Valley, Calif.;and Marvel J. Hammer, RN, CPC, CCS-P, ACS-PM, CHCO, owner of MJH Consulting in Denver.