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Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Greater Occipital Neuralgia

Published on Wed Dec 19, 2012

Question: My physician uses the diagnosis greater occipital neuralgia quite often, and I have not been able to find such a diagnosis in the ICD-9 manual, I have used others that come close but not an exact one. Which ICD-9 code should be used for this diagnosis?

Silvana Ferrer
Marina del Rey, Calif.

Answer: Arnold J. Weil, MD, a physician in private practice for eight years and a diplomat of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Atlanta, says that in his experience, ICD-9 code 729.2 (neuralgia, neuritis, and radiculitis, unspecified) is the most commonly accepted for greater occipital neuralgia.

Bart W. Balint, MD, DABA, primary physician, neurologist and owner of Balint Pain Management Center in Weyers Cave, Va., and an associate of the American Pain Society, concurs with Weil. Balint adds that with occipital neuralgia, the [...]
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