Eli's Rehab Report

Reader Question:

Report EMG Code Per Limb

Question: Our physiatrist performed a limited electromyography (EMG) study on two muscles on the right hand and two muscles on the left hand, but he did not study the whole extremity. Should we report four units of 95870 for this?

Georgia Subscriber

Answer: Because 95870 (Needle electromyography; limited study of muscles in one extremity or non-limb [axial] muscles [unilateral or bilateral], other than thoracic paraspinal, cranial nerve supplied muscles, or sphincters) refers to "muscles in one extremity," you should report just one unit per hand. This unit covers all of the muscles you test in that hand. You should therefore report one unit of 95870-RT (Right side) and one unit of 95870-LT (Left side).

You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were reviewed by Laureen Jandroep, OTR, CPC, CCS-PCPC-H, CCS, director and senior instructor for the CRN Institute, an online coding certification training center.

 

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