A sacral nerve stimulator is a pulse generator that transmits electrical impulses to the sacral nerves through an implanted wire. These impulses cause the bladder muscles to contract, which gives the patient ability to void more properly.
Coverage Requirements
Effective January 1, 2002, sacral nerve stimulation is covered for the treatment of urinary urge incontinence, urgency-frequency syndrome and urinary retention. Sacral nerve stimulation involves both a temporary test stimulation to determine if an implantable stimulator would be effective and a permanent implantation in appropriate candidates. Both the test and the permanent implantation are covered.
The following limitations for coverage apply to all indications:
o Patient must be refractory to conventional therapy (documented behavioral, pharmacologic and/or surgical corrective therapy) and be an appropriate surgical candidate such that implantation with anesthesia can occur.
o Patients with stress incontinence, urinary obstruction, and specific neurologic diseases (e.g., diabetes with peripheral nerve involvement) that are associated with secondary manifestations of the above three indications are excluded.
o Patient must have had a successful test stimulation in order to support subsequent implantation. Before a patient is eligible for permanent implantation, he/she must demonstrate a 50% or greater improvement through test stimulation. Improvement is measured through voiding diaries.
o Patient must be able to demonstrate adequate ability to record voiding diary data such that clinical results of the implant procedure can be properly evaluated.
Billing requirements Healthcare Common Procedural Coding System (HCPCS)
64561 – Percutaneous implantation of neurostimulator electrodes; sacral nerve (transforaminal placement)
64581 – Incision for implantation of neurostimulator electrodes; sacral nerve (transforaminal placement)
64585 – Revision or removal of peripheral neurostimulator electrodes
64590 – Incision and subcutaneous placement of peripheral neurostimulator pulse generator or receiver, direct or inductive coupling
64595 – Revision or removal of peripheral neurostimulator pulse generator or receiver
A4290 – Sacral nerve stimulation test lead, each
E0752 – Implantable neurostimulator electrodes, each
E0756 – Implantable neurostimulator pulse generator
C1767 – Generator, neurostimulator (implantable)
C1778 – Lead, neurostimulator (implantable)
C1883 – Adaptor/extension, pacing lead or neurostimulator lead (implantable)
C1897 – Lead, neurostimulator test kit (implantable)
64581 – Incision for implantation of neurostimulator electrodes; sacral nerve (transforaminal placement)
64585 – Revision or removal of peripheral neurostimulator electrodes
64590 – Incision and subcutaneous placement of peripheral neurostimulator pulse generator or receiver, direct or inductive coupling
64595 – Revision or removal of peripheral neurostimulator pulse generator or receiver
A4290 – Sacral nerve stimulation test lead, each
E0752 – Implantable neurostimulator electrodes, each
E0756 – Implantable neurostimulator pulse generator
C1767 – Generator, neurostimulator (implantable)
C1778 – Lead, neurostimulator (implantable)
C1883 – Adaptor/extension, pacing lead or neurostimulator lead (implantable)
C1897 – Lead, neurostimulator test kit (implantable)
NOTE: The “C” codes listed above are only applicable when billing under the hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS). They should be reported in place of codes A4290, E0752 and E0756
Revenue Codes
The applicable revenue code for the test procedures is 920 except for RHCs/FQHCs who report these procedures under revenue code 521.
Revenue codes for the implantation can be performed in a number of revenue centers within a hospital such as operating room (360) or clinic (510). Therefore, instruct your hospitals to report these implantation procedures under the revenue center where they are performed.
The applicable revenue code for the device codes C1767, C1778, C1883 and C1897, provided in a hospital outpatient department is 272, 274, 275, 276, 278, 279, 280, 289, 290 or 624 as appropriate. The applicable revenue code for device codes A4290, E0752 and E0756 provided in a CAH is 290.
