MRI-guided focused ultrasound thermal ablation for Parkinson’s disease tremors

Q.

We are preparing to offer a new procedure: focused ultrasound thermal ablation under MRI guidance for essential tremor and tremor dominant Parkinson’s disease. Can you offer some suggestions on the appropriate CPT^® codes for this procedure?  We are looking at Category lll CPT code 0398T.

A.

It appears you have the right code. Since this is a Category III code, check with the patient’s insurance for coverage before performing. Medicare does reimburse for this procedure but check for a local LCD. Novitas only covers it for essential tremor and only in certain situations.

The code and full description are as follows:

0398T  Magnetic resonance image guided high intensity focused ultrasound (MRgFUS), stereotactic ablation lesion, intracranial for movement disorder including stereotactic navigation and frame placement when performed