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Needle electromyography (EMG) is a specialized diagnostic procedure designed to assess the electrical activity of muscles, particularly in response to nerve stimulation. This test is particularly useful for evaluating symptoms such as pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling that may arise from various neuromuscular disorders. The CPT® Code 95870 specifically refers to a limited study of muscles in one extremity or non-limb (axial) muscles, which can be performed unilaterally or bilaterally. However, it is important to note that this procedure excludes the evaluation of thoracic paraspinal muscles, muscles supplied by cranial nerves, and sphincter muscles. During the EMG, one or more fine needle electrodes are inserted through the skin into the muscle tissue to record the electrical signals generated by muscle fibers. These signals are then transmitted to a recording device that displays the electrical activity visually. The physician may instruct the patient to perform specific movements to capture recordings of muscle activity during both flexion and extension. The resulting data, which illustrates the action potential of muscle fibers, is analyzed by the physician, who subsequently prepares a comprehensive report detailing the findings of the study. This procedure is critical for diagnosing a range of conditions, including muscle inflammation, nerve compression, herniated discs, peripheral nerve injuries, and various muscular diseases.
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Needle electromyography (EMG) is indicated for the evaluation of various neuromuscular symptoms and conditions. The following are specific indications for performing this procedure:
The procedure for needle electromyography (EMG) involves several key steps to ensure accurate assessment of muscle electrical activity. The following outlines the procedural steps:
After the needle electromyography (EMG) procedure, patients may experience mild discomfort or soreness at the electrode insertion sites, which typically resolves quickly. There are generally no significant restrictions on activities following the test, although patients may be advised to avoid strenuous exercise for a short period. The physician will review the EMG findings and provide a written report, which may include recommendations for further evaluation or treatment based on the results. Follow-up appointments may be scheduled to discuss the findings and any necessary next steps in the patient's care.
| Short Descr | NDL EMG LMTD STD MUSC 1 XTR | Medium Descr | NEEDLE EMG LMTD STD MUSC 1 XTR/NON-LIMB UNI/BI | Long Descr | Needle electromyography; limited study of muscles in 1 extremity or non-limb (axial) muscles (unilateral or bilateral), other than thoracic paraspinal, cranial nerve supplied muscles, or sphincters | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 1 - Diagnostic Tests for Radiology Services | Multiple Procedures (51) | 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | STV-Packaged Codes | Type of Service (TOS) | 5 - Diagnostic Laboratory | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P6C - Minor procedures - other (Medicare fee schedule) | MUE | 4 | CCS Clinical Classification | 7 - Other diagnostic nervous system procedures |
This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.
| 95940 | Addon Code Resequenced Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N Continuous intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring in the operating room, one on one monitoring requiring personal attendance, each 15 minutes (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | 95941 | Addon Code Resequenced Code MPFS Status: Not valid for Medicare purposes APC N Continuous intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring, from outside the operating room (remote or nearby) or for monitoring of more than one case while in the operating room, per hour (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | G0453 | Add-on Code Medicare Coverage: Carrier Priced MPFS Status: Active Code APC N Continuous intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring, from outside the operating room (remote or nearby), per patient, (attention directed exclusively to one patient) each 15 minutes (list in addition to primary procedure) |
| 26 | Professional component: certain procedures are a combination of a physician or other qualified health care professional component and a technical component. when the physician or other qualified health care professional component is reported separately, the service may be identified by adding modifier 26 to the usual procedure number. | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service | 76 | Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | KX | Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met | Q5 | Service furnished under a reciprocal billing arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | Q6 | Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | 52 | Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use). | 77 | Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | AT | Acute treatment (this modifier should be used when reporting service 98940, 98941, 98942) | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GP | Services delivered under an outpatient physical therapy plan of care | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | TC | Technical component; under certain circumstances, a charge may be made for the technical component alone; under those circumstances the technical component charge is identified by adding modifier 'tc' to the usual procedure number; technical component charges are institutional charges and not billed separately by physicians; however, portable x-ray suppliers only bill for technical component and should utilize modifier tc; the charge data from portable x-ray suppliers will then be used to build customary and prevailing profiles | X2 | Continuous/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians whose expertise is needed for the ongoing management of a chronic disease or a condition that needs to be managed and followed with no planned endpoint to the relationship; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to: a rheumatologist taking care of the patient's rheumatoid arthritis longitudinally but not providing general primary care services | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | XP | Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner |
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| 2025-01-01 | Changed | Short Description changed. |
| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Short description changed. |
| 2010-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed. |
| 1998-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 1998. |
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