Somatosensory Testing

Short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) are covered when needed to diagnose or monitor disorders affecting central somatosensory pathways or for intraoperative monitoring during spinal surgeries with risk of additional nerve or spinal cord injury. SEPs are appropriate only when history, neurologic exam, and prior diagnostic tests (imaging, EMG, nerve conduction studies) make a central pathway lesion a reasonable differential; they are generally not necessary for routine peripheral neuropathies or typical cervical/lumbar root decompressions. Interpretation and supervision require appropriately trained providers with documented training or credentialing, and technical performance must follow Medicare supervision levels and applicable state scope-of-practice rules.

"Short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) are medically reasonable and necessary to assist diagnosis of neuropathologic conditions affecting central somatosensory pathways when results w..."