Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Question: Our provider performed 95904 (Nerve conduction, amplitude and latency/velocity study, each nerve; sensory) on the right median 2nd digit-wrist and ulnar 5th digit-wrist, the left median 2nd digit-wrist and ulnar 5th digit-wrist. How many units do we bill -- 4 units or 2 units?

Alaska Subscriber

Answer: Sensory NCSs (95904) are performed by applying electrical stimulation near a nerve and recording the response from a distant site along the nerve. Response parameters include amplitude, latency, configuration, and sensory conduction velocity. You would report 4 units of 95904 as coding for nerve conduction testing is based on each different nerve or nerve branch tested. However, you only code once when multiple sites on the same nerve are stimulated or recorded. It should be noted that most nerves have a contralateral counterpart, and testing of both the right and left nerves is often necessary for comparison; if comparison is needed, the nerve testing on each side may be reported separately. Motor nerve conduction testing (95900 or 95903) is distinct from sensory (95904) studies on an individual nerve. A mixed nerve inherently involves motor and sensory testing at the same time and is reported with 95904 only.