I'm a provider
You will be redirected to myBlue. Would you like to continue?
Please wait while you are redirected.
be RxSmart
Medical & Coding Policies
Provider Network Application
Out-of-State & Non-Network
Printer Friendly Version
DESCRIPTIONQuantitative sensory testing (QST) systems are used for the noninvasive assessment and quantification of sensory nerve function in patients with symptoms of or the potential for neurologic damage or disease. Pain conditions evaluated may include diabetic neuropathy and uremic and toxic neuropathies, complex regional pain syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other nerve entrapment/compression disorders or damage.Quantitative sensory testing has been investigated for a broad range of clinical applications, including evaluation of peripheral neuropathies, detection of carpal tunnel syndrome, spinal radiculopathy, evaluation of the effectiveness of peripheral nerve blocks, quantification of hypoesthetic and hyperesthetic conditions, and differentiation of psychogenic from neurologic disorders. QST systems measure and quantify the amount of physical stimuli required for sensory perception to occur in the patient. As sensory deficits increase, the perception threshold of QST will increase, which may be informative in documenting progression of neurologic damage or disease. QST has not been established for use as a sole tool for diagnosis and management but has been used in conjunction with standard evaluation and management procedures (e.g., physical and neurologic examination, monofilament testing, pinprick, grip and pinch strength, Tinel, Phalen and Roos sign) to enhance the diagnosis and treatment planning process and confirm physical findings with quantifiable data. Stimuli used in QST includes touch, pressure, pain, thermal (warm and cold), or vibratory stimuli. The gold standard for evaluation of myelinated large fibers is the electromyographic nerve conduction study (EMG-NCS). However, the function of smaller myelinated and unmyelinated sensory nerves, which may show pathologic changes before the involvement of the motor nerves, cannot be detected by nerve conduction studies. Small fiber neuropathy has traditionally been a diagnosis of exclusion in patients who have symptoms of distal neuropathy and a negative nerve conduction study. Depending on the type of stimuli used, QST can assess both small and large fiber dysfunction. Touch and vibration measure the function of large myelinated A-alpha and A-beta sensory fibers. Thermal stimulation devices are used to evaluate pathology of small myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers; they can be used to assess heat and cold sensation as well as thermal pain thresholds. Pressure-specified sensory devices (PSSD) assess large myelinated sensory nerve function by quantifying the thresholds of pressure detected with light, static, and moving touch. Finally, current perception threshold testing involves the quantification of the sensory threshold to transcutaneous electrical stimulation. In current perception threshold testing, typically 3 different frequencies are tested: 5 Hz, designed to assess C fibers; 250 Hz, designed to assess A-delta fibers; and 2,000 Hz, designed to assess A-beta fibers. Results are compared with those of a reference population. Because QST combines the objective physical sensory stimuli with the subject patient response, it is psychophysical in nature and requires patients who are alert, able to follow directions, and cooperative. Psychophysical tests have greater inherent variability, making their results more difficult to standardize and reproduce. Devices cleared for marketing by the FDA through the 510(k) process include:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
POLICYQuantitative sensory testing, including but not limited to current perception threshold testing, pressure-specified sensory device testing, vibration perception threshold testing and thermal threshold testing, is considered investigational.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
POLICY EXCEPTIONSFederal Employee Program (FEP) may dictate that all devices approved by the FDA may not be considered investigational and thus, these devices may be assessed only on the basis of their medical necessity.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
POLICY GUIDELINESInvestigative service is defined as the use of any treatment procedure, facility, equipment, drug, device, or supply not yet recognized by certifying boards and/or approving or licensing agencies or published peer review criteria as standard, effective medical practice for the treatment of the condition being treated and as such therefore is not considered medically necessary.The coverage guidelines outlined in the Medical Policy Manual should not be used in lieu of the Member's specific benefit plan language.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
POLICY HISTORY8/2001: Approved by Medical Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC)2/12/2002: Investigational definition added 4/18/2002: Type of Service and Place of Service deleted 8/5/2002: Code Reference section revised 3/7/2003: Code Reference section updated 10/14/2004: Code Reference section reviewed, no changes 1/4/2007: Policy updated to include quantitative sensory testing (QST) and pressure-specified sensory testing as investigational. CPT codes 0106T, 0107T, 0108T, 0109T, and 0110T added to the non-covered codes 4/29/2008: Policy reviewed, no changes 04/14/2010: Policy Exception section revised to include FEP language, Source(s) section revised to remove outdated material; Policy Statement unchanged. 10/21/2010: Policy review; no changes. 10/05/2011: Policy description updated. Added vibration perception threshold testing and thermal threshold testing as investigational. 11/28/2012: Policy reviewed; no changes.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SOURCE(S)Blue Cross Blue Shield Association policy # 2.01.39
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CODE REFERENCEThis is not an all-inclusive list of non-covered procedure codes.All codes billed for this procedure are considered investigational and not eligible for coverage. Non-Covered Codes
Top | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
