December 2008 page 9
Surgery: Nervous System, 64400 (Q&A)
Question: If a provider injected two separate unilateral branches
or divisions of the trigeminal nerve (eg, injected the right supraorbital
branch [V1] and also injected the right infraorbital
branch [V2]), would these injections be reported as two units
of code 64400 or just one unit, as the code description states
"any division or branch"?
Marvel J. Hammer, RN., Denver, CO
Answer: Code 64400 should be reported once for the
injection into the right supraorbital nerve. Code 64400
with modifier 59, Distinct procedural service, appended
should be reported for the...
Note: The following article synopsis was NOT provided by the AMA. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.
Article Overview
This article reviews a December 2008 CPT Assistant question and answer related to nervous system surgery coding, with emphasis on reporting injections involving different trigeminal nerve branches. It is relevant to coders, billers, and compliance staff who work with CPT reporting and modifier usage for peripheral nerve procedures. The discussion focuses on anatomy context, service reporting, and how the coding guidance is framed in a Q&A format.
Why This Topic Matters
It helps readers determine whether the article applies to coding and billing situations involving trigeminal nerve branch injections and related CPT reporting considerations.
Article Sections
December 2008 page 9
Introductory article identifier and source placement information for the CPT Assistant Q&A.
What You Will Learn
How the article frames reporting of nerve injection services involving trigeminal nerve branches
What anatomy context is discussed in relation to the coding question
How the Q&A format presents guidance for nervous system surgery coding topics
What general role modifier use plays in the article’s discussion
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