Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Question: How should I report a nerve conduction study on the median and ulnar nerves?

Washington Subscriber

Answer: CPT's Appendix J lists the median and ulnar nerves under both motor and sensory testing. If, for example, your provider tests the median motor nerve fibers to the abductor pollicis brevis muscle, you count it as one unit of 95900 (Nerve conduction, amplitude and latency/velocity study, each nerve; motor, without F-wave study). If he also tests the median sensory nerve fibers to the fourth digit, this would constitute a separate and distinct diagnostic test you would code as 95904 (... sensory).

Providers can have different ways to report the diagnostic tests they administer; some base their report on whatever computer software they use, and some simply report by personal preference. The key for -counting- the number of nerve conduction studies to report is using Appendix J to identify each nerve or nerve branch tested.