Avoid Denials by Correctly Counting Injections for Spinal Radiofrequency
Posted on 02. May, 2012 by dchandhok in Hot Coding Topics
Each year brings in a slew of coding changes, and unless you get a grip on them real fast you risk losing your hard-earned reimbursement.
The way you report spinal radiofrequency (RF) changed in 2012 because of the implementation of new CPT® codes and descriptors. Here are the top three things you need to remember so you’ll submit claims accurately and with confidence.
What’s New?
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Four codes for paravertebral facet joint nerve destruction (64622, 64623, 64626, and 64627) were deleted. According to AMA CPT® Changes 2012, “Four new codes have been established to more accurately reflect the work and anatomical site involved in these procedures.” Your new code options are:
- 64633 — Destruction by neurolytic agent, paravertebral facet joint nerve(s) with imaging guidance (fluoroscopy or CT); cervical or thoracic, single facet joint
- 64634 — … cervical or thoracic, each additional facet joint (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
- 64635 — … lumbar or sacral, single facet joint
- 64636 — … lumbar or sacral, each additional facet joint (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure).
Reason: Providers perform most paravertebral facet joint services with some type of imaging guidance. Therefore, including “imaging guidance” in the descriptor makes sense.
Change The Way You Count
While the previous destruction codes addressed levels, codes 64633-64636 address individual joints.
“Prior to 2012, the unit of service used to report these procedures was a single nerve at a...
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