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Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Find Hidden Revenue in Your Most-Used Code Claims
Pay special attention to claims with modifiers 25 and 59 If you-re not conducting interna... Read more
Avoid Automatically Writing Off Every Physician Phone Call
Add phone time onto next E/M service -- and possibly get paid Almost every physicia... Read more
There's More to Neurostimulation Treatment Than SCS
Knowing about other types of neurostim gets you ready to codeWhen a patient needs neurosti... Read more
No-Show Charge Is a No-No Without Patient Notification
Most offices give patients 1 -free- no-show visit before charging When a patient does not... Read more
Reader Question ~ Verify Carrier's Coverage of Multiple EMGs
Question: Our neurologist performed chemodenervation to treat a patient's dystonia, which ... Read more
Reader Question ~ Watch Documentation for Non-Hospital EMG
Question: Our physician performed a consultation one day, and the next day another physici... Read more
Reader Question ~ 729.1 Is Your Best Bet for Myofascial Pain
Question: What diagnosis should I use for myofascial pain or myofascial discomfort? South ... Read more
Reader Question ~ Gather Details Before Coding Poor Ambulation
Question: What is the best diagnosis for poor ambulation?California Subscriber Answer: Tw... Read more
Reader Question ~ Remember Modifier KD With Baclofen Claim
Question: Noridian is denying our claims for baclofen with J0475. Why is it suddenly doing... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Several Diagnoses Apply to Feigned Illness
Question: Our neurologist saw an emergency department (ED) patient who complained of migra... Read more
Know Your Nerves When Reporting Trigeminal Neuralgia
Learn about nerve structure to help ensure correct codes Understanding the facial nerve s... Read more
Match Diagnosis With Neurostim Codes--and Avoid Denials
Don't risk losing allowable reimbursementIf your neurologist uses neurostimulation to trea... Read more
Know When Neurostimulation Is the Best Option
When a chart for neurostimulation treatment crosses your desk, get the full story before c... Read more
Enlist Patient Help to Cover Your Documentation Bases
Hint: Forms and procedures smooth the process Teaching your neurologist to accurately... Read more
Reader Question ~ Greater Auricular Nerve = Other Peripheral Nerve
Question: How should I report injections of the greater auricular nerve?Massachusetts Subs... Read more
Reader Question ~ OP Consult Counts for Nonhospital Visit
Question: If our physician sees a patient in the same- day surgery area of the hospital as... Read more
Reader Question ~ Check With Physician on Chronic Pain Diagnosis
Question: What is the best diagnosis code for chronic pain syndrome?Indiana Subscriber An... Read more
Reader Question ~ Reprogramming Is Key to Pump Coding
Question: What code should I report when my physician checks a patient's infusion pump? Ar... Read more
Reader Question ~ Follow 3-Year Rule for New Consults
Question: A physician in another practice asked our neurologist to perform a patient consu... Read more
Reader Question ~ Weigh Your Choices for Botox and Hyperhydrosis
Question: How should I code a Botox injection for hyperhydrosis? Nevada Subscriber Answer... Read more
Reader Question ~ Watch Teaching Rules for TPA Coding
Question: Does CPT include a code for tissue plasminogen activator (TPA)? Our physicians m... Read more
You Be the Coder ~ Bilateral Trigger Point Injections
Question: How should I report bilateral trigger point injections in three locations for a ... Read more
4 Tips Help You Code Head Injuries
Learn what options you have for cognitive deficitsScanning your ICD-9 coding manual for an... Read more
Protect Modifier 59 Payments Using These Strategies
Discover 2 ways the OIG says coders are making big mistakesNow is not the time to be lax i... Read more
Don't Tip Your Hand Too Early For Carpal Tunnel
Find out when you should and shouldn't use 354.0When you-re reporting carpal tunnel syndro... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Submit Paper Claims on Time
Question: Do you have any suggestions for filing paper claims for unlisted-procedure codes... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Try 20610 for Trochanteric Bursa Injection
Question: How should I code injection of trochanteric bursa and sacral crest? My physician... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Apply These Codes for Tysabri
Question: My neurologist administers Tysabri to a multiple sclerosis patient. How should I... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Don't Leave Telephone Codes Off the Hook
Question: Our neurologist receives nonemergent calls after 10 p.m. We are considering char... Read more
You Be the Coder:
How Many Times Can You Report ENG, VNG?
Question: How many units can we report for each electronystagmography (ENG) and videonysta... Read more
Nail 90772's Supervision Requirements By Asking 3 Questions
If you can't meet the standards, resort to no-charge When you report injection code 90772... Read more
From the Experts:
8 Tips Help You Recoup Your 95900-95904 Pay
Hint: Pay attention to extra units when reporting NCS codes Don't let nerve conduction st... Read more
Dx Lesson:
Get Paid for Tests With Normal Results -- Here's How
Find out which diagnosis code to connect to your procedure When tests come back without a... Read more
Fire Up Your Modifier Know-How With This Tool
Consider modifier 59 a last resort, not your first option Suppose your neurologist di... Read more
Reader Questions:
Get More Specific With Epilepsy Dx
Question: I heard that the epilepsy ICD-9 codes have changed. Is this true? And if so, how... Read more
Reader Questions:
Take Your ROS Up a Notch
Question: What is meant by the review of systems (ROS) levels?California Subscriber Answe... Read more
Reader Questions:
Distinguish 'Functional Muscle Groups'
Question: My neurologist performs chemodenervation injections, but I-m confused as to how ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Watch Out for Facet Frequency Guidelines
Question: One of our patients required facet joint injections at four levels, and our insu... Read more
Reader Questions:
When Reporting 2 Units, Check NCCI Edits
Question: My neurologist performed a nerve conduction study (NCS) without F-waves on the u... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Prescription Writing
Question: I heard that there's a code we can bill (and be paid for) to indicate when our p... Read more
5 Strategies Keep Late-Effects Complications Out and Reimbursement In
Find out what codes you should use for the most common CVA late effects You could be subm... Read more
Get $25 Extra Just by Coding Your Neurologist's E-Mails
Curious if any payers are reimbursing 0074T? Here's your answer You can capitalize on you... Read more
2 Same-Day E/M Services Don't Always Spell Denial
Discover when you should combine E/M services and when you shouldn-t If a patient present... Read more
Reader Questions:
Pick 1 Code for Specified Organic Sleep Apnea
Question: What is organic sleep apnea? My physician has been using 780.57 to report sleep ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Review Signs-and-Symptoms Rules of the Road
Question: During an initial consult with a new patient, our neurologist suspected a diagno... Read more
Reader Questions:
Seek Preauthorization for Avonex Injections
Question: How should I report in-office injections of Avonex for multiple sclerosis patien... Read more
Reader Questions:
Study Your Medicare Supervision Levels
Question: Would you explain the -physician supervision of diagnostic services- section of ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
3 Tips to Enrich Your Modifier 25 Claim
Question: A consultant suggests that we use two-entry documentation for encounters that in... Read more
3 Scenarios Assess Your EEG Coding Skills
Discover whether you can report an EEG lasting 40 minutes or more If you-re searching for... Read more
Protect Your Consult Income By Following New CMS Rules
Check out Medicare's request regulations before you bill a consult Neurology coders have ... Read more
Simple Tool Can Make Your Consult Documentation Easy
Stymied by a lack of written consult requests? Fax this form to requesting physiciansIf yo... Read more
Avoid Being Swamped by Recent CMS Releases--Here's How
Warning: Missing the surrogate UPIN change guarantees denials You-ve made it through half... Read more
Reader Question:
Choose 99241-99245 for Observation Stay Consult
Question: How should I code a consult my physician performed for a patient admitted for an... Read more
Reader Questions:
After-Hours Emergency Equals 99050, Not 99052
Question: My neurologist returned to the office at midnight to see a patient. Because he p... Read more
Reader Questions:
Figure Out Your Bilateral Fee for EMG
Question: How can I use the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule to determine an injection code... Read more
Reader Questions:
Count Evaluation Toward Hospital Admission
Question: Our neurologist spent 40 minutes evaluating a stroke patient prior to admission.... Read more
Reader Questions:
Destruction Not Based on Time
Question: How should I bill for my neurologist's time? She spent more than an hour blockin... Read more
Reader Questions:
Don't Overlook Add-On Codes
Question: I am having problems with Medicare not paying for 95920. The carrier says I need... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Find Out if Neurologist Must Document HPI
Question: If a nurse documents the history of present illness (HPI) in her notes, and the ... Read more
3 Steps Take the Tension Out of Your TENS Unit Coding
Bonus:  Learn how to navigate TENS trial periodsWhen you code for transcutaneous elec... Read more
Expert Plan to Submit Top-Quality Unlisted-Procedure Claims
This expert checklist gets you from reviewer to reimbursement with no fussReporting unlist... Read more
Denial Toolbox:
4 Surefire Tactics to Cut Down On Neuro Appeals
Get acquainted with your carrier's LCDsYou can't always count on CPT guidelines to tell yo... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Appeal NCS/EMG Denials
Question: I-ve been getting a denial using 95860-26 (Needle electromyography ...) alongsid... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Dominant Side of Body Dictates CVA Late Effect Coding
Question: For a patient with late effect CVA (cerebrovascular accident), or stroke, should... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Find 2 Codes for Cranial Nerve EMGs
Question: How should I report an EMG study of muscles supplied by the cranial nerve?Michig... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Figure Out Your Bilateral Fee
Question: How can I use the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule to determine an injection code... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
You Can Report 2 Motor NCS--Here's How
Question: Can we report motor nerve conduction study codes separately? If so, which modifi... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
How to Report New, Established Patient Consults
Question: Should I report a consult for an established patient (whom we last saw two years... Read more
You Be the Coder:
How to Report Wasted Botox Units
Question: How should I bill for the unused amount of Botox as wastage?Maryland SubscriberA... Read more
Ramp Up Reimbursement for Nerve Stimulation With These Coding Tips
Watch payer policies or watch your work get bundled into a surgical procedure Nerve stimu... Read more
Keep It in the Family
Your shortcut to choosing accurate neurostimulator codes Now that you-ve mastered rep... Read more
Extinguish These 4 Critical Care Myths for t-PA Administration
Payment policy changes for 37195 mean you-ll need to rely on 99291-99292 If your payment ... Read more
Beef Up Your Consult Documentation, CMS Says
You can request consults from same-group colleagues, but watch frequency You may have spo... Read more
Fax Your Way to Consultation Compliance
New Medicare rules outlined in Medlearn Matters article MM4215 stipulate that both the con... Read more
Reader Questions:
Observe 3-Step Rule for Observation And Discharge
Question: We have a long-standing argument in our office regarding the proper use of obser... Read more
Reader Questions:
Probe Payer Policy Before Monitoring Multiple Patients
Question: Our neurologist is being asked to provide intraoperative monitoring (IOM) for tw... Read more
Reader Questions:
Need Medical Component for Nursing Facility
Question: Would you clarify what separates a nursing facility from a domiciliary, rest hom... Read more
Reader Questions:
Treat Psoas Compartment Block Like Lumbar Plexus
Question: What is a psoas compartment block, and what code should I use for it?Tennessee S... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Don't Overextend Your VAX-D Therapy Coding
Question: Our practice recently began using a DRX-9000 vertebral axial decompression (VAX-... Read more
Discover if Your Auditory EP Coding Is Living Up to Its Potential
You could be losing more than $100 if you don't know how to report multiple studiesAs many... Read more
Clip and Save:
Refresh Your Favorite Links With This Update
Don't let the new Medicare Web site throw you for a loopCMS recently overhauled its Web si... Read more
Still Coding G0355 for Avonex? Expect Prompt Denials
Allow payer's past performance to direct you to current preferencesChronic reconsideration... Read more
Steer Clear of Same-Day E/Ms, Medicare Warns
You'll need separate symptoms to get around this reporting limitationIf you work in a larg... Read more
Take Advantage of This EMG Coding Break in NCCI 12.0
You'll have 1 fewer reason to use modifier 59, thanks to this deletionWhile NCCI 12.0 is m... Read more
Improve EOB Processing With Your Free Denial Tracking Guide
Keeping up with varying payer preferences and guidelines is an important part of heading o... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Hold Out Hope for Retroactive Payments
Question: Is there any updated news about Medicare's changes to the physician fee schedule... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Let Appendix J Clarify 'Mixed' Nerve Coding
Question: What is a -mixed- nerve? How should I report nerve conduction studies for a mixe... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Apply 3-Year Rule Before 'Re-Newing' Patients
Question: A patient stopped receiving treatment from our office two years ago but recently... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Don't Let Changing 92547 Rules Leave You Dizzy
Question: During a recent audit, Medicare told us that we should not have billed multiple ... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Report Observation Using Outpatient Codes
Question: Another physician asked our neurologist for a consult with a patient who had bee... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Break Down Bilateral Botox Billing
Question: We-ve had a problem figuring out if chemodenervation codes 64612-64614 can be bi... Read more
Wave of Bundles Takes the Luster Off New Neuro-Status Exam Code
Limit reporting of 96116 under NCCI 12.0Neurology coders rejoiced when CPT 2006 created ne... Read more
Clarify Your Needle EMG Coding With NCCI Edits
Also:  Get up to speed on the most sweeping new bundle of 2006If you-re having diffic... Read more
Zero In on Seizure Diagnosis Codes With These 4 Strategies
Learn how coding signs and symptoms may raise reimbursementIf you-re faced with assigning ... Read more
News You Can Use:
OIG Cracks Down on Modifiers 25 and 59--Again
Fix your documentation or you'll find yourself in a fixThe HHS Office of Inspector General... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Power Your PMD Prescriptions With G0372
Question: Is there any way we can bill for our neurologist's time, including transmitting ... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Sweat Through Unlisted Code for Hands and Feet
Question: Can we use new chemodenervation code 64653 for Botox injections to hands and fee... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Stand Up to Systematic Downcoding
Question: One of our payers routinely downcodes our E/M services. What can I do about this... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Stick With 1 Physician for Incident-to Claims
Question: Our nurse practitioner recently performed an IV infusion on a patient. The order... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Look for Extra Time to Report Digital EEG Analysis
Question: Would you explain the requirements for reporting digital EEG analysis (95957)? C... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Test Your Knowledge of New Neuropsych Codes
Question: CPT 2006 eliminated the neuropsychological testing code 96117, so how can we cod... Read more
Reimbursement Heads-Up:
Plan for Medicare's Conversion Factor Cut--It's a Doozy
Plus:  Find out how the new physician fee database treats your 2006 CPT codesDon't be... Read more
Start the Clock for New Moderate Sedation Codes
CPT 2006 gives you expanded options for managing young patientsIn the new year, you will n... Read more
Relieve Your Botox Headaches With These 4 Expert Tips
Stress the cost savings of Botox over other treatment optionsProper coding is essential to... Read more
Clarification:
Can't Call Chemodenervation 'Permanent'
In the September issue of Neurology Coding Alert, an article titled -5 Tips Give You the L... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Find Alternative to Prolonged Services
Question: I-ve often been tempted to report modifier 21, but I-m unsure of the requirement... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Identify Administration Type for Nerve Block
Question: What is the correct code for a diagnostic nerve block of the brachial plexus whe... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Include Team Meeting in NF E/M
Question: After completing subsequent nursing facility care for a patient recently, I met ... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Don't Limit History Element to Physician
Question: My coworker thinks a physician must take a patient's history, but I think a nurs... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Avoid Unspecified Codes for Sleep Disorders
Question: I-m having a hard time understanding the new ICD-9 sleep codes beginning with 32... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Tune Into the Right Radiofrequency Codes
Question: What is the difference between standard and pulsed radiofrequency, and how shoul... Read more
Improve Your Payment for Neurobehavioral Status Exams With This New Code
Continue to bundle mini-mental exams to E/M servicesFor neurologists who have tried to gai... Read more
Is Coding for IOM Testing Your Patience? Help Is Here.
Find out how to capture technical reimbursement in a facility settingReporting intraoperat... Read more
Newsflash:
AMA Confirms Category III Codes for QST in CPT 2006
Continue using July 1 guidelines and codes 0106T-0110TGood news: You can still turn to 010... Read more
Don't Sell Your Services Short With Pediatric Patients
Substitute documentation criteria to justify a higher-level E/MIf you-re using the same st... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Keep Up with Recently Added CPT Codes for Central Motor EP
Question: How should I report central motor evoked potentials (EP) in conjunction with a... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Track Down Coverage for BAER
Question: We recently received denials for brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAER) base... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Dismiss G-Codes for PET Scans
Question: Recently, I submitted a claim for positron emission tomography (PET) using G0229... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Don't Overlook NPPs for Incident-To Sevices
Question: Should we consider time as a factor when coding for educational or counseling se... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Add Fifth Digit for Narcolepsy Dx
Question: Prior to 2005, ICD-9 listed only a three-digit code (347) to describe narcolepsy... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Inject Payment Into Your Practice for Apokyn
Question: We are having difficulty getting paid by Medicare carriers for initial injection... Read more
Available Years:  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002  2001  2000  1999