Choosing the correct code for Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS)

Question:

When coding for nerve conduction tests, how are sensory, motor with or without F-wave, and H-reflex studies counted for nerve conduction tests?

Answer:

Nerve conduction studies are performed by placing electrodes directly over the motor point of the specific muscle to be tested and/or electrodes placed over the specific sensory nerve to be tested. H-reflex studies involve both the motor and sensory nerves and assess their connections in the spinal cord.

For the purposes of coding, a single conduction study is defined as a sensory conduction test, a motor conduction test (with or without an F wave test), or an H-reflex test.

Each type of study (sensory, motor, H reflex) for each nerve includes all impulses associated with that nerve and is counted as a distinct study when determining the number of studies billed.

Each type of study is counted only once when multiple sites on the same nerve are stimulated and recorded. The number of tests (sensory, motor, H reflex) per nerve should be added to determine the code to be billed.

CPT Appendix J contains a listing of motor and sensory nerves with each nerve counting as 1 unit of service.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 9/16/24.