Medicare Blog

how to bill medicare for intraoperative neuro monitoring 2017

by Ms. Brooke Smith Jr. Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

Q: Can hospital outpatient departments or ambulatory surgery centers bill for intra-operative nerve monitoring? A: Under Medicare APCs, the hospital and/or ASC can bill for the technical component of the EMG codes, such as CPT 95867 or CPT 95868 and receive separate payment.

Full Answer

What is the CPT code for intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring?

Note: ICD-10 code E07.9 is to be reported for an intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring service (CPT/HCPCS codes 95940 or G0453) during a surgical procedure most accurately described by CPT codes 60220, 60240, 60254 or 60260. Group 1 Codes:

Who can bill for intra-operative nerve monitoring (IOM)?

Q: Who can bill for intra-operative nerve monitoring (IOM)? A: Criteria for commercial payers may vary, so physicians should contact their provider-relations representative. Under Medicare rules, the operating surgeon is not paid separately for IOM. The following providers can bill if they have a separate provider number from

When is intraoperative monitoring not medically necessary?

Intraoperative monitoring is not medically necessary in situations where historical data and current practices reveal no potential for damage to neural integrity during surgery. Monitoring under these circumstances will exceed the patient's medical need.

What are the technical criteria for intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring?

Technical criteria (mandatory) include that at least eight recording channels be available (16 if EEG is monitored) for all intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring.

How do you bill for intraoperative neuromonitoring?

Report continuous intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring in the operating room (95940) in addition to the services related to monitoring from outside the operating room (95941). Code 95941 should be used once per hour even if multiple methods of neurophysiologic monitoring are used during the time.

Does Medicare cover intraoperative neuromonitoring?

All cases monitored, remote or those performed in the operating room require the exclusive undivided attention of the monitoring physician for consideration of Medicare coverage. Medicare does not provide for reimbursement of “incident to” care in the hospital setting.

Does Medicare cover intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring?

Medicare does not have a National Coverage Determination (NCD) for intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring. Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs)/Local Coverage Articles (LCAs) exist and compliance with these policies is required where applicable.

How do you bill for Neuromonitoring?

Intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring codes 95940 and 95941 are each used to report the total duration of respective time spent providing each service, even if that time is not in a single continuous block.

What is the CPT code for intraoperative neuromonitoring?

95940Report continuous intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring in the operating room (95940) in addition to the services related to monitoring from outside the operating room (95941), and interpret the baseline studies, and to remove electrodes at the end of the procedure.

Can G0453 and 95940 be billed together?

Is there a limit on the number of cases that may be billed simultaneously? A: There is a one-case limit for G0453 and 95940, but no limit is specified for 95941. Carriers may specify limits, so providers should check individual carrier policies.

When should modifier 33 be used?

Modifier 33 is applied to indicate that the preventive service is one that waives a patient's co-pay, deductible, and co-insurance.

Does CPT 69990 need a modifier?

CPT has designated code 69990 as an add-on code to report an operating microscope. 69990 should be reported (without modifier 51 appended) in addition to the code for the primary procedure performed.

Is Neuromonitoring covered by insurance?

Will my insurance cover this? Because your surgeon has deemed IONM to be a necessary component of your surgery, these fees will be submitted to your health insurance carrier. In some circumstances, the hospital may have a contractual obligation to pay for this service.

What is an IOM modifier?

IOM modifiers are used with base (primary) codes to denote either a professional or technical component of the service, when both components are not billed. Medicare does not recognize the use of modifiers to represent technical or professional component to add-on CPT®code 95940 or HCPCS code G0453. The use of modifiers with add-on CPT code 95941 is dependent on payor policy. Modifiers may also be used with base (primary) code(s). If both technical and professional components are utilized, no modifier is necessary. When modifiers are not utilized, global billing is inferred for the procedure. Please refer to the Health Insurance Claim Form on page 11 for examples of use.

What is the HCPCS level?

Medicare can also create its own HCPCS code set for professional billing, often in the form of G-codes. HCPCS is divided into two categories, Level I and Level II. Level I consists of CPT®codes — five-digit numbers accompanied by narrative descriptions.

How is sensory pathway monitored?

Sensory pathways are monitored using SSEP by stimulating peripheral nerves and recording the responses at various points leading up to the sensory cortex of the brain. OVERVIEW OF THE NVM5 NEUROMONITORING AND COMPUTER-ASSISTED SURGERY PLATFORM.

What is NVM5 monitoring?

NVM5 MONITORING IS USED DURING THE SPINE PROCEDURE BASE (PRIMARY) CODES ARE USED TO CAPTURE THE IOM MODALITIES PERFORMED (FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE CODES FOR EMG, MEP, AND SSEP) IF PROFESSIONAL OVERSIGHT IS PERFORMED, ADDITIONAL ADD-ON CODES MAY BE APPLIED TO THE BASE (PRIMARY) CODE TO DESCRIBE THE SERVICES PERFORMED

What is the purpose of the anti kickback law?

The federal Anti-kickback Law’s main purpose is to protect patients and federal healthcare programs from fraud and abuse by containing the influence of money on healthcare decisions. The law states that anyone who receives or pays to influence the referral of federal healthcare program business can be charged with a felony.

What is professional self referral?

Professional self-referral occurs when a professional refers a patient to a facility in which the professional has a financial interest. The Stark Law prohibits a professional from referring a patient to a medical facility with which the professional or his or her immediate family has a financial relationship.

What laws do business arrangements have to comply with?

Business arrangements must comply with the federal Stark and Anti-kickback Laws.

What should be documented in a patient's medical record?

The patient’s medical record should document the time spent in monitoring in correlation to the surgery performed.

What information is needed on every page of a medical record?

Every page of the medical record must be legible and include appropriate patient identification information (e.g. complete name, dates of service). The record must include the physician or non-physician practitioner responsible for providing the care of the patient.

What does https://ensure?

The https://ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Which section of the Social Security Act excludes routine physical examinations?

Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, Section 1862(a)(7). This section excludes routine physical examinations.

Is ICD-10 code necessary?

Note: All ICD-10 codes listed below may be viewed as medically necessary. All ICD-10 codes must be coded to the highest level of specificity.

Should intraoperative neurophysiology be reported?

Intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring should not be reported by the physician performing the operative procedure since it is included in the global package for the surgery.

Is CPT copyrighted?

CPT codes, descriptions and other data only are copyright 2020 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/HHSARS apply.

Document Information

CPT codes, descriptions and other data only are copyright 2021 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/HHSARS apply.

CMS National Coverage Policy

This LCD supplements but does not replace, modify or supersede existing Medicare applicable National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) or payment policy rules and regulations for intraoperative neurophysiological testing services. Federal statute and subsequent Medicare regulations regarding provision and payment for medical services are lengthy.

Coverage Guidance

Compliance with the provisions in this policy may be monitored and addressed through post payment data analysis and subsequent medical review audits.

Document Information

CPT codes, descriptions and other data only are copyright 2021 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/HHSARS apply.

CMS National Coverage Policy

Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, Section 1862 (a) (1) (A) states that no Medicare payment shall be made for items or services which are not reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury. Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, Section 1862 (a) (7).

Coverage Guidance

Intraoperative neurophysiological testing may be used to identify/prevent complications during surgery on the nervous system, its blood supply, or adjacent tissue. Monitoring can identify new neurologic impairment, identify, or separate nervous system structures (e.g., around or in a tumor), and can demonstrate which tracts or nerves are still functional.

What modifier is 95941?

IONM Billing#N#We bill the 95941 with a 59 modifier (no 26 because it's a professional only code). Because it is an add on code, I will bill it last. We are getting paid for monitoring.

Why is Medicare not using 95941?

Medicare Note: 95941 may not be used for Medicare beneficiaries because it allows a provider to remotely monitor several patients at the. same time.

How many patients can Medicare monitor at a time?

A: Medicare will now allow a provider to monitor only one patient at a time (95940 if in the operating room and G0453 if outside the. operating room). Time billed is based on actual monitoring time. Physicians may bill Medicare for one unit of G0453 if at least 8.

What is IOM billing?

IOM Billing#N#Check the contract with the vendor to determine the billing. Some contracts will have the vendor do all the billing, part, or none. The contract will determine who is to bill and what portion.

Is 95941 a technical fee?

Based on billing practices can 95940 be billed as a technical fee along with 95941 as the professional fee if there is a clinician in the OR with the patient monitoring while the neurologist is monitoring the case remotely. Or are these codes both professional codes?

Does CPT 95941 have modifiers?

We were also told by United Healthcare that CPT 95941 does not allow for any modifiers (TC/26), but they didn't mention this for the other CPT's that we bill. Very frustrating. Just rec'd several denials from workers comp as well. They'll pay 95941 but none of the other codes I mentioned earlier.

Is 95868 a Medicare package?

95868 and receive separate payment. However, Medicare considers the intraoperative nerve monitoring codes to be a “packaged”. service. The hospital and/or ASC can and should submit the code, but payment for 95940, 95941, or G0453 will be included in. the payment for the primary procedure, so no separate payment is made.

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