EEG in the Evaluation of Headache

This policy covers electroencephalography (EEG) as a diagnostic test in the evaluation of headache when used to assess suspected seizure disorders, altered consciousness, or secondary causes—such as new, severe, progressive, thunderclap, exertional, postpartum, or age >50 headaches, headaches with focal neurologic signs/visual disturbance, or other red flags. EEG is not supported for routine evaluation of typical primary headaches without warning signs, does not reliably identify headache subtypes or screen for structural causes (should not replace imaging), and specific CPT/ICD-10 code pairings are designated not medically necessary.

"Use of EEG as a diagnostic test in the evaluation of epilepsy"

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