Revenue Cycle Insider
Neurology & Pain Management Coding:
Lean on Add-On Code for Multiple RFAs
Published on Mon Apr 28, 2025
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the pain management (PM) specialist performed radiofrequency ablation (RFA) on a pair of thoracic joints for a patient suffering from complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) I of the upper limb. I reported 64633 x 2 and got a denial. What did I do wrong? Connecticut Subscriber Answer: The problem was that you should have used an add-on code for the second RFA. When you resubmit the claim, report: More RFA data: If the RFA had been lumbar or sacral, you would code the procedure with 64635 (鈥� lumbar or sacral, single facet joint) and +64636 (鈥� lumbar or sacral, each additional facet joint (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)). Also, CPT庐 warns that reporting any of the above RFA codes with these guidance codes is expressly prohibited: Chris Boucher, MS, CPC, Senior Development Editor, AAPC
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