Summary & Overview
CPT 95922: Sympathetic Autonomic Function Testing
CPT code 95922 denotes autonomic function testing focused on sympathetic nervous system evaluation. This diagnostic procedure measures autonomic control of blood pressure, pulse rate, sweating and related involuntary functions to characterize autonomic disorders. Nationally, accurate coding for autonomic testing is important for appropriate classification of neurologic diagnostic services, resource planning, and consistent reporting across payers.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical intent, typical sites of service, and payer considerations relevant to reimbursement and coverage policy. The publication outlines common modifiers used with diagnostic procedures, contextual clinical indications for testing, and which service lines typically bill these codes. It also highlights benchmarking and policy updates where available and notes when input data are not provided.
This summary is intended for billing managers, neurology clinicians, and policy analysts seeking a national-level briefing on the clinical purpose and payer landscape for CPT code 95922. It clarifies what the code represents, where the procedure is usually performed, and what content readers can expect in the full publication.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 95922 describes a diagnostic procedure that evaluates sympathetic function of the autonomic nervous system. The test assesses regulation of blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, and other involuntary functions to determine the nature and severity of autonomic disorders.
Service type: Autonomic nervous system testing / autonomic function testing
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department, ambulatory surgical center, or specialized neurology clinic
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 52-year-old patient with progressive unexplained lightheadedness, episodic syncope, and orthostatic hypotension is referred to an autonomic disorders clinic for evaluation. Prior to testing, the clinician reviews history, medications, and recent vital signs. The patient discontinues vasoactive medications per clinic protocol. In the testing suite, a trained neurophysiology technologist places sensors to record blood pressure, heart rate, and skin conductance. The provider performs a series of standardized autonomic sympathetic function tests — for example, quantitative sudomotor axon reflex testing (QSART) components, sympathetic skin response, and reflex assessments of vasomotor reactivity — to characterize sympathetic adrenergic and sudomotor integrity. Continuous monitoring is maintained; results are documented in the medical record and integrated with prior neurologic and cardiology evaluations to guide diagnosis (for example, pure autonomic failure, diabetic autonomic neuropathy, or neurocardiogenic syncope). Typical workflow includes pre-test counseling, informed consent, preparation and baseline recordings, performance of maneuver-based testing, interpretation by a neurologist or autonomic specialist, and formal report with actionable findings.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the physician interpretation of the test separate from the technical performance. |