Code for NCS only if it accompanies EMG.
The sheer number of conditions that can be treated by needle electromyography (EMG) is staggering.
Here’s the EMG presentations most likely in your practice. Remember to check if the provider also performs a nerve conduction study (NCS), as that will change code choice for the EMG.
Note: This is not a complete list of diagnosis codes for EMG, nor is it a guarantee that the conditions will prove medical necessity for your EMG. Always code to the notes, and check with your provider or payer if you are unsure about a particular EMG/ICD-10 combination.
![](https://www.aapc.com/codes/webroot/upload/articles_pdf/2023/nca/2023-02-15_17-47-15.webp)
Code List
In addition to the conditions listed in “Change EMG Coding When NCS Occurs” — carpal tunnel syndrome, herniated disc, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myasthenia gravis — here are some of the other conditions that your provider might test for with a needle EMG and/or NCS:
- A39.82 (Meningococcal retrobulbar neuritis)
- E08.40 (Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with diabetic neuropathy, unspecified)
- E09.40 (Drug or chemical induced diabetes mellitus with neurological complications with diabetic neuropathy, unspecified)
- E10.41 (Type 1 diabetes mellitus with diabetic mononeuropathy )
- F48.2 (Pseudobulbar affect)
- G12.20 (Motor neuron disease, unspecified)
- G12.21 (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
- G12.22 (Progressive bulbar palsy)
- G12.23 (Primary lateral sclerosis)
- G12.24 (Familial motor neuron disease)
- G12.25 (Progressive spinal muscle atrophy)
- G71.20 (Congenital myopathy, unspecified)
- G71.21 (Nemaline myopathy)
- G71.220 (X-linked myotubular myopathy)
- G81.00 (Flaccid hemiplegia affecting unspecified side)
- G81.10 (Spastic hemiplegia affecting unspecified side)
- I69.351 (Hemiplegia and hemiparesis following cerebral infarction affecting right dominant side)
- M35.03 (Sjogren syndrome with myopathy)
- M62.5A0 (Muscle wasting and atrophy, not elsewhere classified, back, cervical).