Article - Billing and Coding: Facet Joint Interventions for Pain Management (A58350)

CMS National Coverage PolicyTitle XVIII of the Social Security Act, 1833(e) states that no payment shall be made to any provider for any claim that lacks the necessary information to process the claim.CMS Internet-Only Manual, Pub. 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 16, 180 Services Related to and Required as a Result of Services Which Are Not Covered Under Medicare.CMS Internet-Only Manual, Pub. 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 13, 10.1 Billing Part B Radiology Services and Other Diagnostic Procedures and 20 Payment Conditions for Radiology Services.Article TextThe information in this article contains billing, coding or other guidelines that complement the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) forFacet Joint Interventions for Pain Management L38765.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 AMA CPTManual 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 Injections: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.Regions:An anatomic spinal region for paravertebral facet joint block (diagnostic or therapeutic), is defined as cervical\thoracic (CPTcodes 64490, 64491, 64492) or lumbar\sacral (CPTcodes 64493, 64494, 64495) per the American Medical Association (AMA) CPTManual.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 CPTManual 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 (CPTcodes 64633 and 64634) or lumbar/sacral (CPTcodes 64635 and 64636) per the AMA CPTManual.For neurolytic destruction of the nerves innervating the T12-L1 paravetebral 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 CPTcodes 64633, 64634, 64635 or 64636. These services should be reported with CPTcode 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 these procedures 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.Documentation RequirementsThe patients 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 visitRelevant medical historyResults of pertinent tests/proceduresSigned and dated office visit record/operative report (Please note that all services ordered or rendered to Medicare beneficiaries must be signed.)