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Interesting tidbit from the April 2008 AANEM newsletter:
Internal Medicine Now Performs More NCSs Than PMR
According to Medicare claims data from 2006, internal medicine (IM) physicians billed for over 50,000 more motor nerve conductions studies with F wave (CPT 95903) than physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians (PMR). This data demonstrates that for 95903 claims, IM physicians have bumped PMR as one of the top two specialties billing for 95903, with PMR falling behind IM and general practice physicians. Historically, neurology and PMR physicians have been the top two specialties submitting claims for 95903. Over the last 5 years there has been a significant increase in billing among IM, general practice, and family practice physicians . IM physicians have increased 95903 claims submissions to Medicare from 2002-2006 by 569%, with general practice and family practice at 290% and 469% respectively. Usage of automated nerve conduction testing devices may be contributing to this increase. The AANEM continues to work to ensure that patients receive quality electrodiagnostic care by educating payors via the State Liason Program, and by working with the American Medical Association CPT editorial panel to clarify billing for NCSs.
There is a graph accompanying the article, which I cannot download, that shows the # of claims for this code for PMR physicians from 2002 to 2006 went from 128,305 ito 182,904 (43% increase). For neurologists: 565,284 to 840,906 (49% increase). For IM docs: 34,927 to 233,647 (569% increase).
Internal Medicine Now Performs More NCSs Than PMR
According to Medicare claims data from 2006, internal medicine (IM) physicians billed for over 50,000 more motor nerve conductions studies with F wave (CPT 95903) than physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians (PMR). This data demonstrates that for 95903 claims, IM physicians have bumped PMR as one of the top two specialties billing for 95903, with PMR falling behind IM and general practice physicians. Historically, neurology and PMR physicians have been the top two specialties submitting claims for 95903. Over the last 5 years there has been a significant increase in billing among IM, general practice, and family practice physicians . IM physicians have increased 95903 claims submissions to Medicare from 2002-2006 by 569%, with general practice and family practice at 290% and 469% respectively. Usage of automated nerve conduction testing devices may be contributing to this increase. The AANEM continues to work to ensure that patients receive quality electrodiagnostic care by educating payors via the State Liason Program, and by working with the American Medical Association CPT editorial panel to clarify billing for NCSs.
There is a graph accompanying the article, which I cannot download, that shows the # of claims for this code for PMR physicians from 2002 to 2006 went from 128,305 ito 182,904 (43% increase). For neurologists: 565,284 to 840,906 (49% increase). For IM docs: 34,927 to 233,647 (569% increase).