Neurology codes report the electronic analysis and programming of the neurostimulator by a physician or other qualified health care professional performed in an outpatient or inpatient setting, operating suite, or surgical recovery unit. These codes (CPT code 95976, 95977, 95983 & 95984) revolve around a device called Neurostimulator.

A neurostimulator, a device that provides chronic electrical stimulation to the nerves of the central or peripheral nervous system, is implanted in the cranial nerve. The stimulation affects the pulse (amplitude, duration, frequency) to treat, for example, the tremors characteristic of Parkinson’s disease.

Description of CPT code 95976, 95977, 95983 & 95984

Programming is classified into two categories: simple or complex. Simple programming describes the adjustment of three or fewer parameter(s); complex describes greater than three parameters. When counting parameters, a parameter adjusted two or more times during the course of programming is considered a single parameter.

CPT code 95976 is reported for simple cranial nerve neurostimulator pulse generator/transmitter programming, including nerve interface testing if applicable and for complex programming, we have to report CPT code 95977.

• 95976 — Electronic analysis of implanted neurostimulator pulse generator/transmitter (eg, contact group[s], interleaving, amplitude, pulse width, frequency [Hz], on/off cycling, burst, magnet mode, dose lockout, patient selectable parameters, responsive neurostimulation, detection algorithms, closed loop parameters, and passive parameters) by physician or other qualified health care professional; with simple cranial nerve neurostimulator pulse generator/transmitter programming by physician or other qualified health care professional
• 95977 — … with complex cranial nerve neurostimulator pulse generator/transmitter programming by physician or other qualified health care professional
• 95983 — … with brain neurostimulator pulse generator/transmitter programming, first 15 minutes face-to-face time with physician or other qualified health care professional
• +95984 — … with brain neurostimulator pulse generator/transmitter programming, each additional 15 minutes face-to-face time with physician or other qualified health care professional (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

95983 and +95984 CPT codes report the electronic analysis of the neurostimulator pulse generator/transmitter by a physician or other qualified health care professional performed in an outpatient or inpatient setting, operating suite, or surgical recovery unit.

CPT code 95983 is reported for the first 15 minutes of face-to-face time with the clinician for analysis and programming and code 95984 for each additional 15 minutes thereafter. Units of service are reached once the midpoint has passed; face-to-face time of less than eight minutes is not reported

Related CPT codes

The related cpt codes includes CPT code 95970, 95971 & 95972. For testing of previously placed neurostimulator pulse generator/transmitter, we have to report code 95970. For this procedures, the pulse neurostimulator may be a brain, cranial nerve, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, or sacral nerve device. But, in this exam the testing is done without programming of the device.

CPT code 95971 is also reported for testing the previously placed neurostimulator pulse generator/transmitter. In this case, a simple spinal cord or peripheral nerve (e.g., sacral nerve) device is tested.

95970 Electronic analysis of implanted neurostimulator pulse generator/transmitter (eg, contact group[s], interleaving, amplitude, pulse width, frequency [Hz], on/off cycling, burst, magnet mode, dose lockout, patient selectable parameters, responsive neurostimulation, detection algorithms, closed loop parameters, and passive parameters) by physician or other qualified health care professional; with brain, cranial nerve, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, or sacral nerve, neurostimulator pulse generator/transmitter, without programming

95971 with simple spinal cord or peripheral nerve (eg, sacral nerve) neurostimulator pulse generator/transmitter programming by physician or other qualified health care professional

95972 with complex spinal cord or peripheral nerve (eg, sacral nerve) neurostimulator pulse generator/transmitter programming by physician or other qualified health care professional

Initial programming for implanted neurostimulators occurs in the operating room (OR) during the insertion or revision of the neurostimulator. The programmer is used in the OR to check for impedance after neurostimulator insertion. Additional programming may occur following the insertion or revision of the neurostimulator within the 10-day global period. Because programming is included in codes 64590 and 64595, separate codes should not be reported for this service. Codes 95971 and 95972 should only be reported if additional programming occurs beyond the 10-day global period; however, the additional programming should include additional adjustments to the settings and not just checking impedance. As stated in the guidelines for these codes, simple programming includes the adjustment of one to three parameters, and complex programming includes the adjustment of more than three parameters. Electronic analysis to document settings and electrode impedances without programming may be reported with code 95970.