CPT code 64744 denotes surgical severing of the greater occipital nerve to alleviate recurrent head and neck pain from occipital neuralgia. This neuroablative procedure is part of the surgical armamentarium for refractory occipital neuralgia and carries implications for coverage, prior authorization, and clinical pathways across national payers. Understanding billing and clinical context for this code matters because it intersects with specialty surgical care, pain management protocols, and payer policies that influence access and reimbursement.

Key payers considered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The report provides a concise review of typical sites of service and the clinical rationale for the procedure, then summarizes payer approaches and benchmarks where available. Readers will find an overview of coding context, payer coverage patterns, common billing modifiers (listed separately), and areas where policy updates or clinical guidelines can affect utilization. The document also highlights considerations for documentation and coding accuracy to support claims processing and review. Data not available in the input is noted where relevant.