TABLE OF CONTENTS CPT Coding Basics...1 National Correct Coding Initiative Edits...1 How to Use NCCI Edits...2 Evaluation and Management...3 Integumentary System... 20 Debridement... 20 Surgery/Musculoskeletal... 20 Spinal Injections & Implantable devices... 25 Surgery/Nervous System... 24 Epidural Neurolysis/Adhesiolysis... 26 Percutaneous Discectomy... 29 Discography... 29 Interlaminar/Epidural Injections... 30 Transforaminal/Epidural Injections... 32 Epiduroscopy/Myeloscopy... 34 Annuloplasty... 34 Spinal Cord Stimulator Implantable Devices.. 35 Neurostimulators, Analysis-Programming... 37 Peripheral Nerve Neurostimulators... 38 Intrathecal Pumps... 39 Nerve Blocks...41 Paravertebral Blocks... 43 Facet Joint/Facet Joint Nerve Medial Branch Block Injections... 43 Sympathetic Nerves... 44 Destruction by Neurolytic Agent (e.g., Chemical, Thermal, Electrical or Radiofrequency)... 45 Radiology... 50 Fluoroscopy... 52 Diagnostic Ultrasound... 52 Medicine/Neurology and Neuromuscular Procedures... 53 Manual Muscle Testing... 53 Range of Motion Testing... 54 Electromyography... 55 Cranial Nerve Supplied Muscle Needle EMG Studies... 55 Limited Needle EMG Studies... 56 Needle EMG Performed with Nerve.Conduction Studies... 56 Special EMG Studies... 57 Guidance for Chemodenervation... 57 Surface EMG... 57 Nerve Conduction Studies... 57 Intraoperative Neurophysiology... 58 Autonomic Function Tests... 58 Evoked Potential Studies... 58 Reflex Tests... 59 Neuromuscular Junction Study... 59 Unlisted Neurological or Neuromuscular Procedure... 59 Motion Analysis and Gait Training... 59 Medicine/Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.. 60 Modalities Supervised... 60 Modalities Constant Attendance... 60 Therapeutic Procedures... 60 Active Wound Care Management... 61 Tests and Measurements... 61 Orthotic Management and Prosthetic Management... 61 Medicine/Acupuncture... 62 Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment... 62 Medicine/Chiropractic Manipulative Treatment... 62 Medicine/Moderate (Conscious) Sedation... 63 Medicare Specialty Codes... 64 Coding for Allied Health Professionals... 65 Modifiers... 66 Modifiers Approved for Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Hospital Outpatient Use... 69 Level II (HCPCS/National) Modifiers...71 Special Medicare Modifiers... 72 HCPCS Coding... 73 Additional Coding Resources...74 Exam Templates... 75 EMG... 75 General... 81 Musculoskeletal... 83 Audit Tools... 85 Evaluation & Management... 85 Musculoskeletal Exam... 88 Medicare Carrier Advisory Committees and Local Coverage Determinations... 90 Coding for Services Provided in Ambulatory Surgical Centers... 92 Place of Service Codes for Professional Claims... 93 Internet Resources... 96 Index... 97 II
Clinical Scenario A 69-year-old right-handed female presents to the office describing a 6-month history of severe right hand paresthesias in a median nerve distribution. She is beginning to notice hand weakness and incoordination as well as nocturnal awakening secondary to the dysesthesias. A trial of nocturnal splinting, hand therapy and activity modification has not been beneficial. Impression: Carpal tunnel syndrome Intervention: Injection of right carpal tunnel with ultrasound-guided injection. The reportable services include: CPT/ Modifier 20526 76942 Description Injection, therapeutic (eg, local anesthetic, corticosteroid), carpal tunnel Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement (eg, biopsy, aspiration, injection, localization device), imaging supervision and interpretation Medication is billed separately. A separate written record of the ultrasound visualization procedure should be maintained in the patient record. Many ultrasound codes require the production and retention of image documentation. It is recommended that permanent images, either electronic or hardcopy, from all ultrasound services be retained in the patient record or some other archive, even in those instances where the CPT code descriptor does not specifically require it. NCCI G0463, J0670, J2000, J2001, 0213T, 0216T, 0228T, 0230T, 10160, 11900, 29075, 29105, 29125, 29260, 29584, 62310, 62311, 62318, 62319, 64400, 64402, 64405, 64408, 64410, 64413, 64415, 64416, 64417, 64418, 64420, 64421, 64425, 64430, 64435, 64445, 64446, 64447, 64448, 64449, 64479, 64483, 64490, 64493, 64505, 64508, 64510, 64517, 64520, 64530, 64550, 76000, 76001, 77002, 95812, 95813, 95816, 95819, 96375, 99211, 99212, 99213, 99214, 99215, 99217, 99218, 99219, 99220, 99221, 99222, 99223, 99231, 99232, 99233, 99234, 99235, 99236, 99238, 99239, 99241, 99242, 99243, 99244, 99245, 99251, 99252, 99253, 99254, 99255, 99304, 99305, 99306, 99307, 99308, 99309, 99310, 99315, 99316, 99334, 99335, 99336, 99337, 99347, 99348, 99349, 99350, 99374, 99375, 99377, 99378, 99446, 99447, 99448, 99449, 99495, 99496 Medicare Edits 20526 Non-Facility RVU: 2.21 Facility RVU: 1.66 MUE: 1 Allowed Modifiers: 50, 51, 59 20550 Injection(s); single tendon sheath, or ligament, aponeurosis (e.g., plantar fascia ) 20551 Injection(s); single tendon origin/ insertion Coding Tips Modifier 25 (significant, separately identifiable E/M service by the same physician) appended to an E/M service to indicate that on the same day as an injection procedure, the physician performed an E/M service that is a significant, separate, identifiable service from the injection. Modifier 25 requires separately identifiable condition and appropriate documentation of medical necessity. NCCI G0463, J0670, J2000, J2001, 0232T, 10160, 11900, 20526, 20551, 20552, 20553, 29075, 29105, 29125, 29130, 29260, 29405, 29425, 29515, 29530, 29550, 29580, 29581, 29582, 29584, 62310, 62311, 62318, 62319, 64405, 64408, 64410, 64435, 64450, 64455, 64505, 64508, 64510, 64517, 64520, 64530, 64550, 64714, 72240, 72265, 72295, 76000, 76001, 77002, 90781, 95812, 95813, 95816, 95819, 95907, 95908, 95909, 95910, 95911, 95912, 95913, 96375, 99211, 99212, 99213, 99214, 99215, 99217, 99218, 99219, 99220, 99221, 99222, 99223, 99231, 99232, 99233, 99234, 99235, 99236, 99238, 99239, 99241, 99242, 99243, 99244, 99245, 99251, 99252, 99253, 99254, 99255, 99304, 99305, 99306, 99307, 99308, 99309, 99310, 99315, 99316, 99334, 99335, 99336, 99337, 99347, 99348, 99349, 99350, 99374, 99375, 99377, 99378, 99446, 99447, 99448, 99449, 99495, 99496 G0463, J0670, J2000, J2001, 0232T, 10160, 11900, 20526, 20552, 20553, 29075, 29105, 29125, 29130, 29260, 29405, 29425, 29515, 29530, 29550, 29580, 29581, 29582, 29584, 62310, 62311, 62318, 62319, 64408, 64410, 64435, 64455, 64505, 64508, 64510, 64517, 64520, 64530, 64550, 76000, 76001, 77002, 95812, 95813, 95816, 95819, 96375, 99211, 99212, 99213, 99214, 99215, 99217, 99218, 99219, 99220, 99221, 99222, 99223, 99231, 99232, 99233, 99234, 99235, 99236, 99238, 99239, 99241, 99242, 99243, 99244, 99245, 99251, 99252, 99253, 99254, 99255, 99304, 99305, 99306, 99307, 99308, 99309, 99310, 99315, 99316, 99334, 99335, 99336, 99337, 99347, 99348, 99349, 99350, 99374, 99375, 99377, 99378, 99446, 99447, 99448, 99449, 99495, 99496 Medicare Edits 20550 Non-Facility RVU: 1.68 Facility RVU: 1.20 Allowed Modifiers: 50, 51, 59 20551 Non-Facility RVU: 1.73 Facility RVU: 1.23 Allowed Modifiers: 51, 59 20552 Injection(s); single or multiple trigger point(s), 1 or 2 muscle(s) 20553 Injection(s); single or multiple trigger point(s), 3 or more muscles Coding Tips Modifier 59 may no longer be used with CPT codes 20552 and 20553 to bill for multiple injections. Many third-party payors will not reimburse for codes 20552 and 20553 if a corresponding J code for medication is not reported. Clinical Scenario Scenario 1: A 65-year old male presents to the physician s office at the request of his primary care physician for evaluation of right cervical pain decreased range of motion; physical exam reveals palpable trigger points with twitch response in the right upper trapezius muscle. Given the lack of improvement with previous treatments, including physical therapy, the physician precedes with trigger point injections to the trapezius. Reportable procedures and diagnoses include: CPT/ Modifier Description 9920X-25 New patient visit 20552 Trigger point injection one/two muscle Diagnosis M54.2 cervicalgia M79.1 Myalgia In this case, the E/M and the injection are separately reportable services because the primary reason for the visit was the E/M service (consultation) and the decision to perform the injection was made following the E/M service. A consultation is not billed because this is a Medicare patient and Medicare no longer recognizes consultation codes. The physician and no other member of the practice has seen this patient before, thus, SAMPLE Musculoskeletal Injections 21
Exam Templates EMG [Patient Name] [MRN] Click here to enter a date. REHABILITATION MEDICINE NEW OUTPATIENT EMG EVALUATION CHIEF COMPLAINT HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS Context Duration Timing Severity Quality Location Modifying factors Associated signs REVIEW OF SYSTEMS Constitutional No fevers Cardiovascular No swelling in arms or legs Gastrointestinal No incontinence Genitourinary Normal voiding Musculoskeletal No joint swelling/redness/tenderness Integumentary No open wounds Neurological No numbness/tingling/burning Endocrine No thyroid disease Hem/Lymphatic No cancer All/Immunologic No autoimmune disease PAST MEDICAL HISTORY PAST SURGICAL HISTORY MEDICATIONS ALLERGIES NKDA FAMILY HISTORY Negative for muscle or nerve disease. SOCIAL HISTORY Tobacco use None Alcohol use None Drug use None Occupation Not working MUSCULOSKELETAL PHYSICAL EXAMINATION Constitutional: VS BP/HR/Ht/Wt/BMI Appearance Well developed, well nourished, normal body habitus, no deformities, well groomed Cardiovascular: No swelling, varicosities, edema or tenderness; normal pulses and temperature Lymphatic: No lymphadenopathy in neck or popliteal areas MSK: Gait & Ambulates independently, balance intact station Head & neck Normal inspection, palpation, range of motion, stability, strength and tone Spine, ribs & pelvis Normal inspection, palpation, range of motion, stability, strength and tone R upper limb Normal inspection, palpation, range of motion, stability, strength and tone L upper limb Normal inspection, palpation, range of motion, stability, strength and tone SAMPLE Exam Templates 75
Audit Tools SA M PL E Evaluation & Management Audit Tools 85