Objective
To determine whether the 2013 nerve conduction study (NCS) reimbursement reduction changed Medicare utilization, payments, and patient access to Medicare physicians, we performed a retrospective analysis of Medicare data.
Conclusions
The Medicare NCS reimbursement policy resulted in a larger decrease in NCS providers than in electromyography (EMG) providers. Despite fewer neurologists and physiatrists performing NCS, Medicare access to these physicians for Evaluation and Management services was not affected. Increased autonomic and evoked potential testing, which are two types of nerve stimulation, may be an unintended consequence of NCS reimbursement change.