Billing and Coding: Facet Joint Interventions for Pain Management

The information in this article contains billing, coding or other guidelines
that complement the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) for Facet Joint
Interventions for Pain Management DL38765.

The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT)/Healthcare Common Procedure Coding
System (HCPCS) code(s) may be subject to National Correct Coding Initiative
(NCCI) edits. Please refer to NCCI for correct coding guidelines and specific
applicable code combinations prior to billing Medicare.

**General Guidelines for Claims submitted to Part A or Part B MAC:**

Procedure codes may be subject to NCCI edits or Hospital Outpatient
Prospective Payment System (OPPS) packaging edits. Refer to NCCI and OPPS
requirements prior to billing Medicare. For services requiring a
referring/ordering physician, the name and National Provider Identifier (NPI)
of the referring/ordering physician must be reported on the claim. A claim
submitted without a valid ICD-10-CM diagnosis code will be returned to the
provider as an incomplete claim under Section 1833(e) of the Social Security
Act. The diagnosis code(s) must best describe the patient's condition for
which the service was performed. For diagnostic tests, report the result of
the test if known; otherwise, the symptoms prompting the performance of the
test should be reported.

**Coding Guidance:** Providers should refer to the applicable American Medical
Association (AMA) CPT Manual to assist with proper reporting of these
services.

This article applies only to cervical/thoracic or lumbar facet procedures and
does not apply to other joint procedures (such as sacral injections,
sacroiliitis, epidural or other spinal procedures).

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures:

Each facet level in the spinal region is composed of bilateral facet joints
(i.e., there are 2 facet joints per level, 1 on the right side and 1 on the
left). Unilateral or bilateral facet interventions may be performed during the
facet joint procedure (a diagnostic nerve block, a therapeutic facet joint
(intra-articular) injection, a medial branch block injection, or the medial
branch radiofrequency ablation (neurotomy)) in 1 session. A bilateral
intervention is still considered a single level intervention.

Each unilateral or bilateral intervention at any level should be reported as 1
unit, with bilateral intervention signified by appending the modifier -50.

One medial branch block is counted as 2 facet joint injections.

Regions:

An anatomic spinal region for paravertebral facet joint block (diagnostic or
therapeutic), is defined as cervical\thoracic (CPT codes 64490, 64491, 64492)
or lumbar\sacral (CPT codes 64493, 64494, 64495) per the AMA CPT Manual.

Levels:

64490 (cervical or thoracic) or 64493 (lumbar or sacral) reports a single
level injection performed with image guidance (fluoroscopy or computed
tomography [CT]). Procedures performed under ultrasound guidance are not
covered.

64491 or 64494 describes a second level which should be reported separately in
addition to the code for the primary procedure. 64491 should be reported in
conjunction with 64490 and 64494 should be reported in conjunction with 64493.

64492 or 64495 describes a third and additional levels and should be listed
separately in addition to the code for the primary procedure and the second
level procedure and cannot be reported more than once per day. 64492 should be
reported in conjunction with 64490/64491 and 64495 should be reported in
conjunction with 64493/64494.

Laterality:

Bilateral paravertebral facet injection procedures 64490 through 64495 should
be reported with modifier 50.

One to 2 levels, either unilateral or bilateral, are allowed per session per
spine region (i.e., 2 unilateral or 2 bilateral levels per session).

For services performed in the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC), physicians must
continue using modifier 50. Only the ASC facility itself must report the
applicable procedure code on 2 separate lines, with 1 unit each and append the
-RT and -LT modifiers to each line.

KX modifier requirements:

The KX modifier should be appended to the line for all diagnostic injections.
In most cases the KX modifier will only be used for the 2 initial diagnostic
injections. If the initial diagnostic injections do not produce a positive
response as defined by the related LCD and indicative of identification of the
pain generator, and it is necessary to perform additional diagnostic
injections, append the KX modifier to the line. Aberrant use of the KX
modifier may trigger focused medical review.

Therapeutic injections:

Documentation of why patient is not a candidate for radiofrequency ablation
(RFA) must be submitted for therapeutic treatment.

Chemodenervation of nerve:

Codes 64633, 64634, 64635, 64636 are reported per joint, not per nerve.
Although 2 nerves innervate each facet joint, only 1 unit per code may be
reported for each joint denervated, regardless of the number of nerves treated
(AMA CPT Manual 2020).

Each unilateral or bilateral intervention at any level should be reported as 1
unit, with bilateral intervention signified by appending the modifier -50.

Region:

An anatomic spinal region for thermal facet joint denervation is defined as
cervical/thoracic (CPT codes 64633 and 64634) or lumbar/sacral (CPT codes
64635 and 64636) per the AMA CPT Manual.

For neurolytic destruction of the nerves innervating the T12-L1 paravertebral
facet joint, use 64633.

Levels:

64633 or 64635 describes a single level destruction by neurolytic agent
performed with image guidance (fluoroscopy or CT).

64634 or 64636 describes each additional level which should be reported
separately in addition to the code for the primary procedure. 64634 should be
used in conjunction with 64633 and 64636 should be used in conjunction with
64635.

Laterality:

For bilateral procedures report modifier 50 on each line in which the
intervention was of a bilateral nature.

For services performed in the ASC, physicians must continue using modifier 50.
Only the ASC facility itself must report the applicable procedure code on 2
separate lines, with 1 unit each and append the -RT and -LT modifiers to each
line.

Non-thermal facet joint denervation (including chemical, low-grade thermal
energy (<80 degrees Celsius or any other form of pulsed radiofrequency) should
not be reported with CPT codes 64633, 64634, 64635 or 64636. These services
should be reported with CPT code 64999. Code 64999 is non-covered when used
to report non-thermal facet joint denervation.

If facet joints are injected with biologicals or other substances not
designated for this use the entire claim will deny per Medicare Benefit Policy
Manual, Chapter 16, 180.

Use of moderate or deep sedation, general anesthesia, and monitored anesthesia
care (MAC) is usually unnecessary or rarely indicated for facet injections and
not routinely reimbursable and, therefore, may be denied. In exceptional
circumstances, if the medical necessity of sedation is unequivocal and clearly
documented in the medical record, individual consideration may be considered
on appeal.

For RFA, the use of moderate anesthesia or MAC may be considered if medical
necessity is clearly established. Documentation must explain the medical
necessity for sedation, and frequent reporting of these services together may
trigger focused medical review.

**Documentation Requirements**

The patient's medical record should include, but is not limited to:

  * The assessment of the patient by the performing provider as it relates to the complaint of the patient for that visit
  * Relevant medical history
  * Results of pertinent tests/procedures
  * Signed and dated office visit record/operative report (Please note that all services ordered or rendered to Medicare beneficiaries must be signed.)