Coding and Billing for Spinal Cord Stimulators for Chronic Pain Patients

​CPT Codes to Report (based on Medical Necessity and Service(s) Performed:

63650 PERCUTANEOUS IMPLANTATION OF NEUROSTIMULATOR ELECTRODE ARRAY, EPIDURAL
63655 LAMINECTOMY FOR IMPLANTATION OF NEUROSTIMULATOR ELECTRODES, PLATE/PADDLE, EPIDURAL
63663 REVISION INCLUDING REPLACEMENT, WHEN PERFORMED, OF SPINAL NEUROSTIMULATOR ELECTRODE PERCUTANEOUS ARRAY(S), INCLUDING FLUOROSCOPY, WHEN PERFORMED
63664 REVISION INCLUDING REPLACEMENT, WHEN PERFORMED, OF SPINAL NEUROSTIMULATOR ELECTRODE PLATE/PADDLE(S) PLACED VIA LAMINOTOMY OR LAMINECTOMY, INCLUDING FLUOROSCOPY, WHEN PERFORMED
63685 INSERTION OR REPLACEMENT OF SPINAL NEUROSTIMULATOR PULSE GENERATOR OR RECEIVER, DIRECT OR INDUCTIVE COUPLING

REMEMBER:  to always review documentations and medical necessity when performing these services.

According to CMS Utilization Guidelines:

Utilization Guidelines (most commercial payers also follow this guidelines):

63650 - Two temporary spinal cord stimulator trials per anatomic spinal region (two per DOS) or (four units) per patient per lifetime (with exceptions allowed for technical limitations for the initial trials or for use of different modalities of stimulation, including new technology), in place of service office, ASC, out-patient hospital, or hospital. Since permanent neurostimulator arrays can also be placed percutaneously, code 63650 can be covered more often in place of service ASC, out-patient hospital, or hospital.

63655 - One permanent spinal cord stimulator per patient per lifetime and must be performed in an ASC, out-patient hospital or hospital.

63663 - Will not be reimbursed in the office setting since they are included in 63650.

Remember: The imaging guidance is NON-BILLABLE! 

​Common ICD-10 Codes Cross-over meeting Medical Necessity:
M51.16 Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, lumbar region
M51.17 Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, lumbosacral region
M51.24 Other intervertebral disc displacement, thoracic region
M51.25 Other intervertebral disc displacement, thoracolumbar region
M51.26 Other intervertebral disc displacement, lumbar region
M51.27 Other intervertebral disc displacement, lumbosacral region
M54.11 Radiculopathy, occipito-atlanto-axial region
M54.12 Radiculopathy, cervical region
M54.13 Radiculopathy, cervicothoracic region
M54.14 Radiculopathy, thoracic region
M54.15 Radiculopathy, thoracolumbar region
M54.16 Radiculopathy, lumbar region
M54.17 Radiculopathy, lumbosacral region
M54.18 Radiculopathy, sacral and sacrococcygeal region
M96.1 Postlaminectomy syndrome, not elsewhere classified

Medicare and Most PAYERS DO NOT reimburse for the Leads. So be careful not to report the L-Code not unless you know your payer will pay for it!

Reference: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/article.aspx?articleId=57792&ver=6

CPT CODE BOOK: 2021 and 2022
ICD-10 GUIDELINE: 2021

CPT is a Trademark and Owned by the American Medical Association

SCS Vendors Useful Links:
Boston Scientific Interventional Pain Management Products
Medtronic Spinal Stimulation Systems 
NALU NeuroStimulation
St. Jude Medical NeuroStimulation Systems (Abbott)
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