Respiratory Question for the Week of September 25, 2023

Question:

Can you further explain the specific details of use regarding EGG codes, when they are used, and what these encompass?

Answer:

The electroencephalogram (EEG) is a noninvasive test used to detect abnormalities in the brain’s electrical activity; help diagnose seizure disorders; look for causes of confusion; and evaluate head injuries, tumors, infections, degenerative diseases, and metabolic disturbances. EEGs also are performed to evaluate sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy, and to investigate periods of unconsciousness. Seizure disorders as a possible cause of parasomnia are appropriately evaluated by standard or prolonged sleep EEG studies.

In 2020, CPT® code 95827 describing all-night EEG recording was deleted and the code series for EEG recording was expanded to better define the different types of EEG recording that may be performed. For sleep labs, with the deletion of CPT code 95827 you are instructed to refer to codes 95705, 95706, 95707, 95711, 95712, 95713, 95717, or 95718 and choose the code that most accurately describes the EEG recording performed based on the long description of the codes. These codes describe 2–12 hours of monitoring, with or without video and various levels of monitoring and maintenance of the patient (i.e., unmonitored, intermittent, continuous). EEGs are commonly used to diagnose suspected cases of parasomnia (such as sleepwalking, sleep terrors, and REM behavior disorders). The nature of these conditions can frequently be established by careful clinical evaluation. A PSG may be useful in providing a diagnostic classification or prognosis.

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