Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Question: A patient suffering from Parkinson’s disease without dyskinesia but with fluctuations had a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) performed. The physician also performed a series of tests to evaluate brain activity related to the patient’s sensory and language functions; this allowed the recording and mapping of the brain’s blood flow in response to the tests. What is the correct code for this service?

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Answer: There are actually two codes to report for this service.

For the fMRI, you should report 70555 (Magnetic resonance imaging, brain, functional MRI; requiring physician or psychologist administration of entire neurofunctional testing); for the testing the physician performed, report 96020 (Neurofunctional testing selection and administration during noninvasive imaging functional brain mapping, with test administered entirely by a physician or other qualified health care professional (ie, psychologist), with review of test results and report).

Don’t forget: Append G20.A2 (Parkinson’s disease without dyskinesia, with fluctuations) to 70555 and 96020 to represent the patient’s condition.