As promised, CMS continues to complicate ICD-10-CM starting October 1, 2016. They have instituted separate codes for mid cervical region for each level, along with multiple bilateral codes for various other ailments. These codes involve cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, with radiculopathy, cervical disc displacement without radiculopathy or myelopathy and cervical disc degeneration. CMS and other carriers may not reimburse for unspecified codes and lower specificity codes.
Please remember to use the codes with the highest level of specificity, otherwise claims may be denied.
Please update your coding as follows, whichever way it works for you. The following are the revised codes:
Red - Deleted
Blue - New codes
M50.02 Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, mid-cervical region
M50.020 Mid-Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, unspecified level
M50.021 Cervical disc disorder at C4-C5 level with myelopathy
M50.022 Cervical disc disorder at C5-C6 level with myelopathy
M50.023 Cervical disc disorder at C6-C7 level with myelopathy
M50.12 Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy, mid-cervical region
M50.120 Mid-cervical disc disorder, unspecified
M50.121 Cervical disc disorder at C4-C5 level with radiculopathy
M50.122 Cervical disc disorder at C5-C6 level with radiculopathy
M50.123 Cervical disc disorder at C6-C7 level with radiculopathy
M50.22 Other cervical disc displacement, mid-cervical region
M50.220 Mid-other cervical disc displacement, unspecified level
M50.221 Other cervical disc displacement at C4-C5 level
M50.222 Other cervical disc displacement at C5-C6 level
M50.223 Other cervical disc displacement at C6-C7 level
Additional bilateral codes also have been issued. The following are the bilateral codes relevant for interventional pain management physicians.
G56.33 Lesion of radial nerve, bilateral upper limbs
G56.43 Causalgia of bilateral upper limbs
G57.03 Lesion of sciatic nerve, bilateral lower limbs
G57.13 Meralgia paresthetica, bilateral lower limbs
G57.53 Tarsal tunnel syndrome, bilateral lower limbs
G57.63 Lesion of plantar nerve, bilateral lower limbs
G57.73 Causalgia of bilateral lower limbs
G57.83 Other specified mononeuropathies of bilateral lower limbs
For those who have purchased ICD-10-CM book, the revisions will be made in the electronic version and sent to you at no cost.