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Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Coding Strategies:

Take The Pain Out Of Spinal Neurostimulator Reporting

Published on Mon Jan 09, 2012

Trials and reprogramming can help you to recover your deserved payment for these services.Your chances of successfully reporting your neurologist's spinal neurostimulator implant services will improve dramatically if you can capture all the steps in the operative note. Correctly assigning codes depends on identifying a typical sequence, which includes placing a trial electrode array/lead, removing it, implanting a permanent electrode array/lead and pulse generator, and lastly programming the generator system at regular intervals according to the clinical response.Code for Each Trial ArrayMost patients will be subjected to a trial before they are given permanent spinal cord stimulator. "Trial placement of electrodes is done to make sure a patient can tolerate it before a permanent one is placed," says Teresa Thomas, BBA, RHIT, CPC, practice manager II, St. John's Clinic -- Neurosurgery, Springfield, Missouri. The trial placement helps to test and confirm the relief from pain. "The trial helps to determine [...]
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