Effective January 1, 2020, 4 new codes will take effect describing injections and destruction/ablation of the genicular nerve branches and the nerves innervating the sacroiliac joint. These codes describe services our members have been providing for years but, until now, there hasn’t been specific coding to capture this work. These codes are reflective of the hard work of our CPT and RUC advisor teams as well as our continued collaborative efforts with other specialty societies. It is our hope that with the implementation of these new codes our members will experience fewer challenges obtaining coverage for these services.
The chart below includes the new code language and proposed 2020 Physician Fee Schedule values. The new code numbers will be finalized later this year, but the code language is final. Your Academy will be submitting a comment letter urging CMS to accept higher practice expense RVUs for these services as well as a higher work RVU specifically for the genicular nerve branch destruction code. CMS is accepting comments on the proposed values for these codes through September 27, 2019.
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Code
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Descriptor
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2020 Proposed wRVU
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2020 Proposed Total RVU
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64XX0
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Injection(s), anesthetic agent(s) and/or steroid; genicular nerve branches, including imaging guidance, when performed
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1.52
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6.04
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64XX1
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Destruction by neurolytic agent, genicular nerve branches, including imaging guidance, when performed
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2.5
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9.64
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6XX00
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Injection(s), anesthetic agent(s) and/or steroid; nerves innervating the sacroiliac joint, with image guidance (ie, fluoroscopy or computed tomography)
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1.52
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5.26
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6XX01
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Radiofrequency ablation, nerves innervating the sacroiliac joint, with image guidance (ie, fluoroscopy or computed tomography)
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3.39
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12.20
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