Q I have been billing insurance for some time now, and I am aware that codes for diagnosis and procedures are updated each year. Are there any of which you are aware for 2009 that are applicable to acupuncture providers?
A I am very excited to note that last two major changes to diagnosis codes (2007 and 2009) included new codes for the diagnosis of pain and headaches. For 2009, there are 35 new and updated ICD-9 codes for headaches and three new CPT procedure codes for injections (note that there are states that do allow a certified or licensed acupuncturist to perform injections). The diagnosis update is as follows:
96372
Therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic injection (specify substance or drug); subcutaneous or intramuscular (replaces 90772)
96373
Therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic injection (specify substance or drug); intra-arterial (replaces 90773)
96379
Unlisted therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic intravenous or intra-arterial injection or infusion (replaces 90779)
307.80
Psychogenic pain, unspecified
339.44
Other complicated headache syndrome
307.89
Pain disorder related to psychological factors, other
339.81
Hypnic headache
339.00
Cluster headache syndrome, unspecified
339.82
Headache associated with sexual activity
339.01
Episodic cluster headache
339.83
Primary cough headache
339.03
Episodic paroxysmal hemicranias
339.84
Primary exertional headache
339.04
Chronic paroxysmal hemicranias
339.85
Primary stabbing headache
339.05
Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing
339.89
Other specified headache syndromes
339.09
Other trigeminal autonomic cephalgias
346.00
Migraine with aura
339.10
Tensio-type headache, unspecified
346.10
Migraine without aura
339.11
Episodic tension-type headache
346.20
Variants of migraine
339.12
Chronic tension-type headache
346.30
Hemiplegic migraine
339.20
Posttraumatic headache, unspecified
346.40
Menstrual migraine
339.21
Acute posttraumatic headache
346.50
Persistent migraine aura without cerebral infarction
