Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Question: Does it matter if the patient is awake or asleep during an electroencephalogram (EEG)? Will it affect code choice?

Nebraska Subscriber

Answer: It definitely matters if the patient is awake or asleep during an EEG; it even matters if the patient was drowsy, as the CPT^® codes for EEGs reach that level of specificity. For EEGs when the patient was awake, asleep, or drowsy — or a combination of these — you’ll choose from the following codes depending on encounter specifics:

• 95816 (Electroencephalogram (EEG); including recording awake and drowsy)
• 95819 (… including recording awake and asleep)
• 95822 (… recording in coma or sleep only)

There is also a code for EEG to evaluate cerebral death; if your provider performs this service, report 95824 (… cerebral death evaluation only).