Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Question: Our physician sent an EEG holter monitor home with a patient for three days. What CPT code should we bill, and do we report it once for each day?

Illinois Subscriber

Answer: The correct choice is 95953 (Monitoring for localization of cerebral seizure focus by computerized portable 16 or more channel EEG, electroencephalographic [EEG] recording and interpretation, each 24 hours, unattended). You should report one unit of 95953 for each 24-hour period.

Caution: Don't slip and report 95956 (Monitoring for localization of cerebral seizure focus by cable or radio, 16 or more channel telemetry, electroencephalographic [EEG] recording and interpretation, each 24 hours, attended by a technologist or nurse). Although this code reports the same type test as 95953, you only report 95956 when the sleep lab staff is present the entire time the study is performed.