Basics of EEG CPT code

EEG stands for Electroencephalogram. This test is useful to determine if the patient has mental or physical problem that affects the brain. Doctors can use the test to make sure all the parts of the brain are functioning properly and to assist them with diagnosing their patients. Electroencephlogram or EEG CPT code are totally based on time, hence time plays a crucial role to find the correct CPT code for long time EEG exam.

Read also : Coding guide for Myocardial perfusion CPT codes in Radiology

Description of EEG CPT code

Ambulatory EEG monitoring is a diagnostic procedure for patients in whom a seizure diathesis is suspected but not defined by history, physical or resting EEG. Twenty four hour ambulatory cassette-recorded EEGs offer the ability to record the EEG on a long-term, outpatient basis. Electrodes for at least four (4) recording channels are placed on the patient. The cassette recorder is attached to the patient’s waist or on a shoulder harness. Recorded electrical activity is analyzed by playback through an audio amplifier system and video monitors.

Ambulatory electroencephalography (EEG) should always be preceded by a routine EEG. A routine EEG is described by Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes 95812, 95813, 95816, 95819 or 95822 and refers to a routine EEG recording of less than a 24 hour continuous duration.

95812 -Electroencephalogram (EEG) extended monitoring; 41-60 minutes

Sensors are placed on a patient’s head in an electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure and record the brain’s electrical activity. Brain waves are captured on paper or electronic medium for study. This code applies to EEG monitoring for 41-60 minutes.

95813  ; 61-119 minutes

Sensors are placed on a patient’s head in an electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure and record the brain’s electrical activity. Brainwaves are captured on paper or electronic medium for study. This code applies to EEG monitoring for 61 to 119 minutes and may include hyperventilation and/or photic stimulation.

95816 Electroencephalogram (EEG); including recording awake and drowsy

Sensors are placed on a patient’s head in an electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure and record the brain’s electrical activity. Brain waves are captured on paper or electronic medium for study. This code applies to a patient awake and drowsy during the EEG.

95819 ; including recording awake and asleep

Sensors are placed on a patient’s head in an electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure and record the brain’s electrical activity. Brain waves are captured on paper or electronic medium for study. This code applies to a patient intermittently awake and asleep during the EEG.

95822 ; recording in coma or sleep only

Sensors are placed on a patient’s head in an electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure and record the brain’s electrical activity. Brain waves are captured on paper or electronic medium for study. This code applies to a patient recorded in coma or sleeping during the EEG.

A routine “resting” (EEG) (as described by CPT codes 95812, 95813, 95816, 95819 or 95822) must be performed prior to performing an ambulatory continuous EEG. A claim for the routine EEG must have been submitted to Medicare with a date of service (DOS) within 1 year of the DOS of the ambulatory EEG.

Read also: Coding guide for CPT code for Evacuation of hematoma

Trigger Point Injection Coding guide for coders

When to use CPT code 95705 , 95706 and 95707

An EEG technologist places sensors on a patient’s head in an electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure and record the brain’s electrical activity. This is a long-term (two to 12 hours) continuous recording that captures brainwave activity. Indications include screening of critically ill patients for adverse changes, determination of location or type of seizures, distinguishing seizures from other abnormalities, monitoring of seizure/status epilepticus treatment, or evaluation of a patient’s candidacy for epilepsy surgery. No video is utilized. An EEG technologist reviews and provides written documentation of the data.

CPT code 95705 is reported for an unmonitored study. CPT code 95706 is repored for a study with intermittent monitoring and maintenance (requiring performance and documentation of real-time review of data by the EEG technologist at least every two hours during the recording period); and CPT code 95707 is reported for a study with continuous, real-time monitoring and maintenance. These codes report technical services only.

95705 Electroencephalogram (EEG), without video, review of data, technical description by EEG technologist, 2-12 hours; unmonitored

95706 with intermittent monitoring and maintenance

95707 with continuous, real-time monitoring and maintenance

CPT code 95708, 95709 and 957110 reports each increment of 12 to 26 hours of continuous recording that captures brainwave activity. Indications include screening of critically ill patients for adverse changes, determination of location or type of seizures, distinguishing seizures from other abnormalities, monitoring of seizure/status epilepticus treatment, or evaluation of a patient’s candidacy for epilepsy surgery. No video is utilized. An EEG technologist reviews and provides written documentation of the data.

95708 Electroencephalogram (EEG), without video, review of data, technical description by EEG technologist, each increment of 12-26 hours; unmonitored

95709 with intermittent monitoring and maintenance

95710 with continuous, real-time monitoring and maintenance

CPT code 95711, 95712 and 95713, EEG technologist places sensors on a patient’s head in an electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure and record the brain’s electrical activity for long-term (two to 12 hours) continuous recording with the use of video (VEEG)

95711 Electroencephalogram with video (VEEG), review of data, technical description by EEG technologist, 2-12 hours; unmonitored

95712 with intermittent monitoring and maintenance

95713 with continuous, real-time monitoring and maintenance

95714 Electroencephalogram with video (VEEG), review of data, technical description by EEG technologist, each increment of 12-26 hours; unmonitored

95715 with intermittent monitoring and maintenance

95716 with continuous, real-time monitoring and maintenance

The unmonitored-attention code set applies to services in which:

1. No monitoring technologist watches the signals during recording,

2. A monitoring technologist watches more than 12 recordings at a time, or

3. A monitoring technologist checks the recordings less than once every 2 hours.

(95705, 95706, 95707, 95711, 95712, 95713 may be reported a maximum of once for an entire longer-term EEG service to capture either the entire time of service or the final 2-12 hour increment of a service extending beyond 26 hours)

95717 Electroencephalogram (EEG), continuous recording, physician or other qualified health care professional review of recorded events, analysis of spike and seizure detection, interpretation and report, 2-12 hours of EEG recording; without video

95718 with video (VEEG)

(95717, 95718 may be reported a maximum of once for an entire long-term EEG service to capture either the entire time of service or the final 2-12 hour increment of a service extending beyond 24 hours)

95719 Electroencephalogram (EEG), continuous recording, physician or other qualified health care professional review of recorded events, analysis of spike and seizure detection, each increment of greater than 12 hours, up to 26 hours of EEG recording, interpretation and report after each 24-hour period; without video

95720 with video (VEEG)

(95719, 95720 may be reported only once for a recording period greater than 12 hours up to 26 hours. For multiple-day studies, 95719, 95720 may be reported after each 24-hour period during the extended recording period. 95719, 95720 describe reporting for a 26-hour recording period, whether done as a single report or as multiple reports during the same time)

(95717, 95718 may be reported in conjunction with 95719, 95720 for studies lasting greater than 26 hours)

(Do not report 95717, 95718, 95719, 95720 for professional interpretation of long-term EEG studies when the recording is greater than 36 hours and the entire professional report is retroactively generated, even if separate daily reports are rendered after the completion of recording)

(When the entire study includes recording greater than 36 hours, and the professional interpretation is performed after the entire recording is completed, see 95721, 95722, 95723, 95724, 95725, 95726)

95721 Electroencephalogram (EEG), continuous recording, physician or other qualified health care professional review of recorded events, analysis of spike and seizure detection, interpretation, and summary report, complete study; greater than 36 hours, up to 60 hours of EEG recording, without video

95722  greater than 36 hours, up to 60 hours of EEG recording, with video (VEEG)

95723  greater than 60 hours, up to 84 hours of EEG recording, without video

95724  greater than 60 hours, up to 84 hours of EEG recording, with video (VEEG)

95725  greater than 84 hours of EEG recording, without video

95726  greater than 84 hours of EEG recording, with video (VEEG)

Codes 95700-95726 describe long-term continuous recording services for electroencephalography (EEG), which are performed to differentiate seizures from other abnormalities, determine type or location of seizures, monitor treatment of seizures and status epilepticus, establish if the patient is a candidate for epilepsy surgery, and/or screen for adverse change in critically ill patients

Codes 95700-95726 use EEG/VEEG recording time as a basis for code use. Recording time is when the recording is underway and diagnostic EEG data is being collected. Recording time excludes set up and take down time. If diagnostic EEG recording is disrupted, recording time stops until diagnostic EEG recording is resumed.