2025 CPT code 95961

Functional cortical and subcortical mapping by stimulation and/or recording of electrodes on brain surface, or of depth electrodes, to provoke seizures or identify vital brain structures; initial hour of physician attendance.

Report 95961 for the first hour of physician attendance. For each additional hour, use 95962.The physician must be physically present and cannot perform this procedure remotely.

Modifiers 26 (Professional Component) and TC (Technical Component) can be used to report the professional or technical aspects of the service separately. Modifier 52 (Reduced Services) can be applied if the service is less than 30 minutes.

Medical necessity must be established by documenting the clinical indication for the mapping procedure, such as intractable epilepsy, brain tumor near eloquent cortex, or other conditions where precise localization of brain function is essential for safe and effective surgical planning or intervention.

The physician is responsible for overseeing the placement of electrodes, interpreting the data from the stimulation/recording, and making recommendations based on the findings. This may involve provoking seizures in a controlled environment to pinpoint their origin, or stimulating different areas to identify their function (e.g., language, motor control).

In simple words: Brain mapping is a procedure where the doctor places sensors on the brain's surface or inside the brain. These sensors either stimulate the brain or record its activity. The goal is to find out where seizures start or to locate important areas of the brain. This helps surgeons plan procedures more accurately.

This code represents the initial hour of physician attendance for functional cortical and subcortical mapping. This procedure involves stimulating or recording from electrodes placed on the brain surface or deep within the brain. The purpose is to either induce seizures for localization or to identify critical brain structures. This procedure aids in pre-surgical planning for epilepsy surgery or other neurosurgical interventions requiring precise localization of brain function.

Example 1: A patient with drug-resistant epilepsy is undergoing pre-surgical evaluation. Functional cortical mapping is performed to identify the seizure focus and its relationship to vital brain areas., A patient requires surgery for a brain tumor near critical motor areas. Mapping is performed to identify the boundaries of these areas and guide the surgical resection to minimize functional deficits., A patient is undergoing deep brain stimulation surgery for Parkinson's disease. Subcortical mapping is used to precisely target the structures for electrode placement.

Documentation should include the type of mapping performed (stimulation or recording), the location of electrodes, the findings of the mapping (including seizure onset zone, if applicable), and any complications. The report should also clearly state the total duration of physician attendance for proper coding.

** Use of automated spike and seizure detection and trending software is included in the long-term EEG monitoring codes (95700-95726), if performed. Do not report 95957 in addition to 95961-95962.

  • Specialties:Neurosurgery, Neurology, Epilepsy
  • Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center
** Only Enterprise users with EHR integration can access case-specific answers. Click here to request access.