CPT 95886: Needle Electromyography of Extremity and Paraspinal Muscles

Medicare pays $69 and commercial payers pay $170 on average nationally for this procedure.

CPT code 95886 describes a needle electromyography (EMG) procedure assessing electrical activity of muscles in an extremity and related paraspinal areas during the same session as a separately reportable nerve conduction study; this is a diagnostic electrodiagnostic service performed to evaluate peripheral nervous system function, typically provided in an electrodiagnostic laboratory or outpatient neurology/physiatry clinic and billed as a needle EMG, multi-muscle multi-level study when five or more muscles innervated by three or more nerves or four or more spinal levels are examined.

For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Artificial Cervical Intervertebral Disc, Lumbar Microdiscectomy, Lumbar Decompression.

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National Reimbursement Benchmarks

Medicare's national mean of $69.3 sits substantially below BUCA's commercial average of $170.00, indicating Medicare payment levels for CPT 95886 are roughly 59% lower than this representative commercial benchmark. This gap highlights a significant payer-class difference in average reimbursement, with Medicare centered near its median locality value of $56 while BUCA sits near more typical commercial levels around its $156 median.

Dispersion measured by the interquartile spread (P75 minus P25) is widest for Blue Cross Blue Shield at $115.50 ($276.60 - $159.10), followed by Aetna at $84.00 ($139.90 - $50.30). UnitedHealth Group and Cigna show tighter spreads of $69.00 ($125.50 - $58.50) and $63.30 ($127.40 - $58.10), respectively, indicating more concentrated commercial pricing for those payers; BUCA's spread is $99.10 ($214.20 - $115.10) and Medicare's IQR is $48.50 ($96.00 - $47.50).

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CPT 95886: Needle Electromyography of Extremity and Paraspinal Muscles

Medicare pays $69 and commercial payers pay $170 on average nationally for this procedure.

For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Artificial Cervical Intervertebral Disc, Lumbar Microdiscectomy, Lumbar Decompression.

Customize your policy alerts

Sign up for cpt 95886 policy alerts

Get alerted when payer policies referencing 95886 are released or updated.

Monitor payer policy activity

Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 54-year-old right-handed patient presents to a neurology clinic with progressive numbness, paresthesia, and weakness in the upper extremities and intermittent neck and low back discomfort. Prior evaluation by the primary care provider suggested possible peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome. The neurologist orders electrodiagnostic testing during a single clinic encounter: nerve conduction studies followed by needle electromyography of multiple muscles in the upper extremity and related paraspinal regions to assess peripheral nerve and muscle function.

The clinical workflow includes verification of indications and informed consent, a focused history and neurologic exam, performance of nerve conduction studies (separately reportable), then performance of needle electromyography examining five or more muscles innervated by three or more nerves or four or more spinal levels in the same session. The study evaluates focal entrapment (e.g., G56.00), diffuse polyneuropathy (e.g., G62.9, G60.9), and myofascial or pain syndromes (e.g., M79.7, M54.5). Findings are documented in the procedure note with impression, correlated to presenting symptoms, and used to guide further management such as referral for physical therapy, splinting, or neurologic follow-up.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`95911`	Nerve conduction studies; 9-10 studies	Commonly performed in the same session as EMG to evaluate multiple nerves; complements the muscle study reported with `95886`.
`95913`	Nerve conduction studies; 13 or more studies	Performed when extensive nerve testing is required; may be reported separately in the same session if criteria met.
`95885`	Needle electromyography, limited study of muscles	Used for more limited EMG exams; `95886` represents a more extensive extremity/paraspinal EMG when criteria (five or more muscles) are met.
`95887`	Needle electromyography, non-extremity	Used for paraspinal-only or non-extremity muscle studies; complements extremity EMG when non-extremity regions are evaluated.
`95910`	Nerve conduction studies; 7-8 studies	Represents a smaller number of nerve conduction studies that may be billed when fewer studies are performed alongside EMG.

Related Modifiers

8 rows

Modifier	Description	When to Use
26	Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…	- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
59	Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…	- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
25	CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…	- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
52	Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…	- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
53	Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…	- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
76	Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…	- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
77	Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…	- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
95	Modifier 95 indicates that a service was provided via synchronous, real‑time audio‑video telehealth rather than in‑person. Per CMS, AAPC and professional associations, append modifier 95 to claim…	- Use modifier 95 to indicate a service was furnished via synchronous, real‑time audiovisual telehealth (a live audio‑video conference between patient and provider) rather than in‑person. - Pair…

Related Provider Taxonomies

8 rows

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2084N0400X	Neurology Physician	A Neurologist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases or impaired function of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, muscles, auton…
208100000X	Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician	Physical medicine and rehabilitation, also referred to as rehabilitation medicine, is the medical specialty concerned with diagnosing, evaluating, and…
2084P2900X	Pain Medicine (Psychiatry & Neurology) Physician	A neurologist, child neurologists or psychiatrist who provides a high level of care, either as a primary physician or consultant, for patients experie…
207RC0001X	Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Physician	A field of special interest within the subspecialty of cardiovascular disease, specialty of Internal Medicine, which involves intricate technical proc…
225CX0006X	Orientation and Mobility Training Rehabilitation Counselor	Orientation and Mobility (O&M) specialists teach children and adults who have visual impairments the specific orientation skills used to find one's wa…
364SP0812X	Community Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist	Physician Assistants & Advanced Practice Nursing Providers · Clinical Nurse Specialist
363AM0700X	Medical Physician Assistant	Physician Assistants & Advanced Practice Nursing Providers · Physician Assistant
3336C0004X	Compounding Pharmacy	A pharmacy that specializes in the preparation of components into a drug preparation as the result of a Practitioner's Prescription Drug Order or init…

Related Payer Policy Updates

Specialty: Neurology/Neurosurgery1 / 3

10 rows

Policy	Payer	Effective Date
Artificial Cervical Intervertebral Disc	univerahealthcare	2026-10-15
Lumbar Microdiscectomy	univerahealthcare	2026-10-15
Lumbar Decompression	univerahealthcare	2026-10-15
Nerve Fiber Density Testing (IENFD/ENFD) Coverage Criteria	Oscar Health	2026-10-01
Biomarker Testing for Multiple Sclerosis and Related Neurologic Diseases	Oscar Health	2026-10-01
Serum Testing For Evidence of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury	Oscar Health	2026-10-01
Biochemical Markers of Alzheimer Disease and Dementia	Oscar Health	2026-10-01
Evaluation of Cerebrospinal Fluid, Urine and Plasma for Alzheimer Disease	Bluecross Idaho	2026-09-01
Prior Authorization of Spinal Procedures	Blue Cross Blue Shield - Rhode Island	2026-09-01
Alzheimer's Disease - Amyloid Beta- Directed Antibodies - Kisunla	Cigna	2026-08-15

CPT 95860: Needle Electromyography Recording of Skeletal Muscle

CPT-95861-NEEDLE-ELECTROMYOGRAPHY-DIAGNOSTIC-EMG

CPT 95861: Needle Electromyography with Intramuscular Recordings

CPT-95863-NEEDLE-ELECTROMYOGRAPHY-AUDIBLE-RECORDING

CPT 95863: Needle Electromyography of Skeletal Muscle

CPT-95864-NEEDLE-ELECTROMYOGRAPHY-EMG-RECORDING

CPT 95864: Needle Electromyography of Skeletal Muscle

CPT-95865-LARYNGEAL-NEEDLE-ELECTROMYOGRAPHY

CPT 95865: Laryngeal Electromyography with Needle Electrodes

CPT-95866-NEEDLE-EMG-SPONTANEOUS-RESPIRATION

CPT 95866: Needle Electromyography During Spontaneous Respiration

CPT-95867-NEEDLE-EMG-CRANIAL-NERVE-INNERVATED-MUSCLES

CPT 95867: Needle EMG of Muscles Innervated by Cranial Nerves

CPT-95868-NEEDLE-EMG-CRANIAL-NERVE-INNERVATED-MUSCLES-BILATERAL

CPT 95868: EMG of Cranial Nerve–Innervated Muscles

CPT-95869-NEEDLE-ELECTROMYOGRAPHY-AUDIBLE-RECORDING

CPT 95869: Needle Electromyography with Audible Monitoring

CPT-95870-NEEDLE-ELECTROMYOGRAPHY-LIMITED-STUDY

CPT 95870: Limited Needle Electromyography for One Extremity or Non‑Limb Muscles

Showing 1–10 of 12

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`95911`	Nerve conduction studies; 9-10 studies	Commonly performed in the same session as EMG to evaluate multiple nerves; complements the muscle study reported with `95886`.
`95913`	Nerve conduction studies; 13 or more studies	Performed when extensive nerve testing is required; may be reported separately in the same session if criteria met.
`95885`	Needle electromyography, limited study of muscles	Used for more limited EMG exams; `95886` represents a more extensive extremity/paraspinal EMG when criteria (five or more muscles) are met.
`95887`	Needle electromyography, non-extremity	Used for paraspinal-only or non-extremity muscle studies; complements extremity EMG when non-extremity regions are evaluated.
`95910`	Nerve conduction studies; 7-8 studies	Represents a smaller number of nerve conduction studies that may be billed when fewer studies are performed alongside EMG.

Related Modifiers

8 rows

Modifier	Description	When to Use
26	Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…	- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
59	Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…	- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
25	CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…	- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
52	Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…	- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
53	Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…	- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
76	Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…	- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
77	Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…	- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
95	Modifier 95 indicates that a service was provided via synchronous, real‑time audio‑video telehealth rather than in‑person. Per CMS, AAPC and professional associations, append modifier 95 to claim…	- Use modifier 95 to indicate a service was furnished via synchronous, real‑time audiovisual telehealth (a live audio‑video conference between patient and provider) rather than in‑person. - Pair…

Related Provider Taxonomies

8 rows

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2084N0400X	Neurology Physician	A Neurologist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases or impaired function of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, muscles, auton…
208100000X	Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician	Physical medicine and rehabilitation, also referred to as rehabilitation medicine, is the medical specialty concerned with diagnosing, evaluating, and…
2084P2900X	Pain Medicine (Psychiatry & Neurology) Physician	A neurologist, child neurologists or psychiatrist who provides a high level of care, either as a primary physician or consultant, for patients experie…
207RC0001X	Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Physician	A field of special interest within the subspecialty of cardiovascular disease, specialty of Internal Medicine, which involves intricate technical proc…
225CX0006X	Orientation and Mobility Training Rehabilitation Counselor	Orientation and Mobility (O&M) specialists teach children and adults who have visual impairments the specific orientation skills used to find one's wa…
364SP0812X	Community Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist	Physician Assistants & Advanced Practice Nursing Providers · Clinical Nurse Specialist
363AM0700X	Medical Physician Assistant	Physician Assistants & Advanced Practice Nursing Providers · Physician Assistant
3336C0004X	Compounding Pharmacy	A pharmacy that specializes in the preparation of components into a drug preparation as the result of a Practitioner's Prescription Drug Order or init…

Related Payer Policy Updates

Specialty: Neurology/Neurosurgery1 / 3

10 rows

Policy	Payer	Effective Date
Artificial Cervical Intervertebral Disc	univerahealthcare	2026-10-15
Lumbar Microdiscectomy	univerahealthcare	2026-10-15
Lumbar Decompression	univerahealthcare	2026-10-15
Nerve Fiber Density Testing (IENFD/ENFD) Coverage Criteria	Oscar Health	2026-10-01
Biomarker Testing for Multiple Sclerosis and Related Neurologic Diseases	Oscar Health	2026-10-01
Serum Testing For Evidence of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury	Oscar Health	2026-10-01
Biochemical Markers of Alzheimer Disease and Dementia	Oscar Health	2026-10-01
Evaluation of Cerebrospinal Fluid, Urine and Plasma for Alzheimer Disease	Bluecross Idaho	2026-09-01
Prior Authorization of Spinal Procedures	Blue Cross Blue Shield - Rhode Island	2026-09-01
Alzheimer's Disease - Amyloid Beta- Directed Antibodies - Kisunla	Cigna	2026-08-15

CPT 95860: Needle Electromyography Recording of Skeletal Muscle

CPT-95861-NEEDLE-ELECTROMYOGRAPHY-DIAGNOSTIC-EMG

CPT 95861: Needle Electromyography with Intramuscular Recordings

CPT-95863-NEEDLE-ELECTROMYOGRAPHY-AUDIBLE-RECORDING

CPT 95863: Needle Electromyography of Skeletal Muscle

CPT-95864-NEEDLE-ELECTROMYOGRAPHY-EMG-RECORDING

CPT 95864: Needle Electromyography of Skeletal Muscle

CPT-95865-LARYNGEAL-NEEDLE-ELECTROMYOGRAPHY

CPT 95865: Laryngeal Electromyography with Needle Electrodes

CPT-95866-NEEDLE-EMG-SPONTANEOUS-RESPIRATION

CPT 95866: Needle Electromyography During Spontaneous Respiration

CPT-95867-NEEDLE-EMG-CRANIAL-NERVE-INNERVATED-MUSCLES

CPT 95867: Needle EMG of Muscles Innervated by Cranial Nerves

CPT-95868-NEEDLE-EMG-CRANIAL-NERVE-INNERVATED-MUSCLES-BILATERAL

CPT 95868: EMG of Cranial Nerve–Innervated Muscles

CPT-95869-NEEDLE-ELECTROMYOGRAPHY-AUDIBLE-RECORDING

CPT 95869: Needle Electromyography with Audible Monitoring

CPT-95870-NEEDLE-ELECTROMYOGRAPHY-LIMITED-STUDY

CPT 95870: Limited Needle Electromyography for One Extremity or Non‑Limb Muscles

Showing 1–10 of 12

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

OpenPayer

CPT 95886: Needle Electromyography of Extremity and Paraspinal Muscles

Sign up for cpt 95886 policy alerts

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

OpenPayer

CPT 95886: Needle Electromyography of Extremity and Paraspinal Muscles

Sign up for cpt 95886 policy alerts

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Payer Policy Updates

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Payer Policy Updates

Related Codes

References

CPT 95886: Needle Electromyography of Extremity and Paraspinal Muscles

Sign up for cpt 95886 policy alerts

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

CPT 95886: Needle Electromyography of Extremity and Paraspinal Muscles

Sign up for cpt 95886 policy alerts

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Payer Policy Updates

Related Codes

What clinical situations warrant reporting CPT 95886?

How does 95886 relate to nerve conduction study CPT codes like 95911 or 95913?

When should a coder choose 95886 instead of 95885 or 95887?

What documentation elements are described as necessary to support billing 95886?

Which diagnoses in the provided list are commonly associated with ordering 95886?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Payer Policy Updates

Related Codes

What clinical situations warrant reporting CPT 95886?

How does 95886 relate to nerve conduction study CPT codes like 95911 or 95913?

When should a coder choose 95886 instead of 95885 or 95887?

What documentation elements are described as necessary to support billing 95886?

Which diagnoses in the provided list are commonly associated with ordering 95886?

References