2025 CPT code 95886
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Neurology - Electromyography Procedures Medicine Services and Procedures > Neurology and Neuromuscular Procedures Feed
Needle electromyography (EMG) of each extremity, including related paraspinal areas, performed with nerve conduction studies (NCS); complete study of five or more muscles innervated by three or more nerves or four or more spinal levels.
Modifiers 26 (professional component), 50 (bilateral procedure), 52 (reduced services), and other appropriate modifiers as clinically indicated.
Medical necessity is established based on clinical findings suggestive of neuromuscular disorders such as peripheral neuropathy, myopathy, or radiculopathy. The test is crucial for differential diagnosis, guiding treatment strategies, and monitoring disease progression.
A neurologist or other qualified healthcare professional performs this test.They insert needles into various muscles to record the electrical activity while the patient is at rest and during muscle contraction. The recordings are analyzed to assess nerve and muscle function.
- Medicine Services and Procedures > Neurology and Neuromuscular Procedures
- Neurology and Neuromuscular Procedures > Electromyography Procedures
In simple words: This test checks the electrical activity of muscles and nerves in your arm or leg.It's done at the same time as another nerve test. The doctor uses tiny needles to check many muscles to see how well your nerves and muscles are working.
This CPT code, 95886, represents a complete needle electromyography (EMG) of an extremity, encompassing the related paraspinal muscles.The procedure is performed concurrently with nerve conduction studies (NCS), specifically codes 95907-95913.The EMG involves the examination of at least five muscles innervated by a minimum of three peripheral nerves or four spinal levels.The reported unit includes all muscles assessed within a given extremity, whether or not paraspinal muscles are evaluated. Up to four units can be billed per patient if all four extremities are studied.The results will show amplitude and latency/velocity details for both EMG and NCS. This code is reported as an add-on code, meaning it must be used in conjunction with a primary nerve conduction study code (95907-95913).
Example 1: A patient presents with weakness in both arms and legs. The physician orders both NCS and EMG to evaluate the peripheral nerves and muscles for potential nerve damage or neuromuscular disease., A patient with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome undergoes NCS and EMG of the upper extremities.The EMG portion requires 95886 due to the number of muscles assessed., A patient with a history of trauma to the lower extremities undergoes NCS and EMG of both lower extremities to evaluate for nerve damage or muscle dysfunction.
* Detailed patient history including symptoms, onset, and progression of neurological symptoms.* Complete neurological examination documenting findings of muscle weakness, atrophy, reflexes, and sensory abnormalities.* Detailed report of NCS findings including latency, amplitude, and conduction velocity.* Detailed report of EMG findings, including description of muscle fiber potentials, recruitment patterns, and any abnormalities noted.* Specific identification of muscles studied and nerves evaluated in both EMG and NCS.* Documentation of the number of muscles studied in each extremity.
** This code is for a complete study; use 95885 for a limited study.Always document the number of muscles examined in each extremity to justify billing.
- Revenue Code: P6C (Medicare Fee Schedule: MINOR PROCEDURES - OTHER)
- RVU: The RVUs for this code vary depending on geographic location and other factors.Consult your local Medicare Fee Schedule for the most current information.
- Global Days: Not applicable. This is an add-on code to the primary NCS procedure; global days would be determined by the primary procedure code.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Technical component (TC) modifier does not apply to this physician-reported code.
- Fee Schedule: Data not available. Check your local Medicare Fee Schedule for historical data.
- Specialties:Neurology, Electromyography, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Place of Service:Office, Hospital (Inpatient or Outpatient), Ambulatory Surgical Center, other appropriate places of service where the procedure can be performed.