Ask Dr. Z

Procedure was done for occipital neuralgia. Report describes 22-guage Radio-frequency probes intermittently advanced in tandem under CT guidance into the perineural fat adjacent to the left Greater and Lesser occipital nerves. Omnipaque was injected for localization purposes. Sensory stimulation occurred at 2.5 volts. Continuous radio-frequency ablation was then performed for one one minute at 80 degrees Celsius, trice in each area. Therapeutic injections were done afterwards, which I believe to be bundled into the RFA. For the RFA, would it be coded with 64640, unlisted 64999 or something else? Question ID 10938 references 64405 or 64450 for Greater & Lesser occipital RFA and Question ID 5437 says TON RF ablation is 64640. Can you explain what makes the occipital nerves fall under the peripheral codes? Thanks!