Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

McCormack offers several other useful suggestions to coders reporting EEG testing situations.

"You can find a listing of -approved- diagnoses for EEGs on the CMS Web site," she says, located at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/manuals/downloads/ncd103_xref_cim_to_ncd.pdf.

"Check with your local Medicare or Medicaid carrier for any local coverage determination requirements," she says. "Generally speaking, if both or either of these carriers will cover a specific diagnosis, so will a private or commercial carrier. Many commercial and private insurance companies now have Web sites where we as providers can gain access to a patient's specific policy provisions."