Neurology CPT Codes
Neurology billing centers on diagnostic testing: EEG, EMG with nerve conduction studies, and sleep studies, plus procedures like Botox for chronic migraine. Most of these tests split into technical and professional components, and several of the EMG codes are add-ons that can't stand alone. Get the pairings right and neurology bills cleanly; get them wrong and the add-on denials pile up.
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Neurology CPT codes
EEG, Awake and Drowsy
Routine electroencephalogram recording awake and drowsy states. The standard outpatient EEG.
EEG, Awake and Asleep
EEG that captures sleep. Used when sleep-deprived or sedated recording is clinically needed.
EMG, Complete, Each Extremity (Add-on)
Needle EMG of five or more muscles in one limb. Add-on: bills only with a nerve conduction study code.
Nerve Conduction Studies, 7–8 Studies
NCS code selected by total study count. The most common level for a standard two-limb workup.
Polysomnography, Attended
In-lab sleep study with technologist attendance, 6 or more parameters. The full diagnostic sleep study.
Neuropsychological Test Evaluation, First Hour
Physician or psychologist evaluation of neuropsych testing, first hour. Additional hours use the add-on 96133.
Chemodenervation for Chronic Migraine
Botox injection protocol for chronic migraine, both sides of head and neck. Drug billed separately.
Codes in blue have full detail pages with documentation requirements, billing mistakes, and FAQ.
Neurology billing notes
95886 (complete EMG of an extremity) is an add-on code. It only bills alongside a nerve conduction study code like 95910, never by itself. A standalone 95886 is an automatic rejection.
Nerve conduction codes are chosen by the total number of studies performed: 95907 through 95913 cover 1-2 studies up to 13 or more. Count the studies, pick one code.
EEG and EMG both split into technical and professional components. When the hospital owns the machine and your neurologist reads the study, the hospital bills with TC and the physician bills with 26.
64615 (chemodenervation for chronic migraine) covers the injection work only. The Botox itself bills separately as a drug code, and nearly every payer wants prior authorization plus documented chronic migraine before either gets paid.
Sleep studies have two families: in-lab polysomnography (95810, attended) and home sleep tests. Payers increasingly require a failed or contraindicated home study before they'll pay for the lab.
Frequently asked questions about neurology billing
Can I bill an EMG without a nerve conduction study?▼
Usually not with 95885 or 95886, because those are add-on codes that require an NCS code on the same claim. The standalone EMG codes (95860 series) exist for the rare EMG-only encounter, but payers scrutinize them since standard practice pairs EMG with NCS.
How is a sleep study billed?▼
In-lab attended polysomnography is 95810, or 95811 when CPAP titration happens during the night. Home sleep tests use different codes and pay far less. Most payers now require the home study first for uncomplicated suspected apnea, so check the policy before scheduling the lab.
Does 64615 include the Botox?▼
No. 64615 pays for the injection procedure itself; the toxin bills separately as a drug code with the exact units used. Both typically need prior authorization tied to a chronic migraine diagnosis, and payers expect documentation of failed preventive medications first.
Sources
- Code set structure and updates: American Medical Association — CPT
- Fee schedule and component billing rules: CMS Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
- How we research and verify: our editorial policy
CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Content on this page is original educational writing, not a reproduction of AMA-copyrighted descriptions. Verify codes and payer rules before billing.