Affiliated with a Castle Connolly Top Hospital
Who is Dr. Kao, Physiatrist in Santa Cruz, CA?
Dr. Kaly Kao, MD is a Physiatrist, who primarily practices in Santa Cruz, CA with 1 additional practice location. Dr. Kao graduated from University of California and completed his residency at New York Hospital Queens. He is a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPMR), International Spine Intervention S. Dr. Kao is fluent in English, Chinese, and Spanish, and is currently seeing new patients. Dr. Kao’s practice accepts Medicare and other major insurance plans. To book an appointment or to confirm insurance options, please call Dr. Kao’s office at (831) 477-2350.
Where did Dr. Kao go to medical school and complete their residency?
Residency: New York Hospital Queens | VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Affiliated Hospitals | U S DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Medical School: University of California
What languages does Dr. Kao speak?
Dr. Kao and their clinical team can communicate with patients in the following languages:
Chinese
English
Spanish
What conditions does a Physiatrist like Dr. Kao typically treat?
As a Physiatrist, Dr. Kao diagnoses, treats, and manages a wide range of conditions. This condition information is derived from anonymized insurance claims and highlights the medical conditions most commonly treated by Dr. Kao. It provides insight into the doctor’s areas of experience and expertise based on real-world patient encounters from the past two years, updated quarterly. Learn more about our claims-based healthcare methodology here.
Also known as:
- Lower Back Nerve Root Pain
- Back Pain
- Peripheral Nerve Disorder
- Pinched Nerve in Lower Back
- Lumbosacral Radiculopathy
- Sciatica
ICD-10 Codes:
- M5417: Radiculopathy, lumbosacral region
Also known as:
- Tailbone Disorder
- Spine Injuries and Disorder
- Coccyx Disorder
- Sacrococcygeal Pain
- Tailbone Pain
ICD-10 Codes:
- M533: Sacrococcygeal disorders, not elsewhere classified
Also known as:
- Pinched Nerve in Neck
- Neck Injuries and Disorder
- Peripheral Nerve Disorder
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Neck Nerve Compression
- Compressed Nerve in Neck
ICD-10 Codes:
- M5412: Radiculopathy, cervical region
Also known as:
- Muscle Pain
- Muscle Disorder
- Myalgia
- Muscle Ache
- Muscle Soreness
ICD-10 Codes:
- M7918: Myalgia, other site
Also known as:
- History of Other Musculoskeletal or Connective Tissue Disease
- Connective Tissue Disorder
- Muscle Disorder
- Past Bone Disease
- Previous Muscle Disorder
- History of Joint Problems
- Connective Tissue Disease History
ICD-10 Codes:
- Z8739: Personal history of other diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
What procedures does a Physiatrist like Dr. Kao typically perform?
As a Physiatrist, Dr. Kao performs a variety of medical procedures. This procedure information is derived from anonymized insurance claims and highlights the medical procedures most commonly performed by Dr. Kao. It provides insight into the doctor’s areas of experience and expertise based on real-world patient encounters from the past two years, updated quarterly. Learn more about our claims-based healthcare methodology here.
Also known as:
- Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Injection
- Epidural Steroid Injection
- TFESI (Lumbar)
- Nerve Root Block (Lumbar)
- Lower Back Nerve Injection with Imaging
- Cervical Epidural Injection
- Thoracic Epidural Injection
- Spinal Nerve Block
- Pain Relief Spinal Injection
CPT Codes:
- 64483: Injection(s), anesthetic agent(s) and/or steroid; transforaminal epidural, with imaging guidance (fluoroscopy or CT), lumbar or sacral, single level
- 62321: Injection(s), of diagnostic or therapeutic substance(s) (eg, anesthetic, antispasmodic, opioid, steroid, other solution), not including neurolytic substances, including needle or catheter placement, interlaminar epidural or subarachnoid, cervical or thoracic; with imaging guidance (ie, fluoroscopy or CT)
Also known as:
- Facet Joint Nerve Ablation (Lumbar/Sacral)
- Lumbar Facet Joint Denervation
- Sacral Facet Nerve Block
- Radiofrequency Ablation for Back Pain
CPT Codes:
- 64635: Destruction by neurolytic agent, paravertebral facet joint nerve(s), with imaging guidance (fluoroscopy or CT); lumbar or sacral, single facet joint
Also known as:
- Lumbar/Sacral Facet Joint Nerve Destruction (Additional)
- Facet Joint Nerve Ablation
- Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) Spine
- Lumbar Facet Denervation
CPT Codes:
- 64636: Destruction by neurolytic agent, paravertebral facet joint nerve(s), with imaging guidance (fluoroscopy or CT); lumbar or sacral, each additional facet joint (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
Also known as:
- Lumbar or Sacral Epidural Injection (Guided)
- Sacroiliac Joint Injection
- Transforaminal Epidural Injection
- Spinal Nerve Block
- Lower Back Pain Injection with Guidance
- SI joint injection
- Sacroiliac steroid injection
- Image-guided SI joint injection
- Sacroiliac joint block
CPT Codes:
- 64484: Injection(s), anesthetic agent(s) and/or steroid; transforaminal epidural, with imaging guidance (fluoroscopy or CT), lumbar or sacral, each additional level (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
- 27096: Injection procedure for sacroiliac joint, anesthetic/steroid, with image guidance (fluoroscopy or CT) including arthrography when performed
Does Dr. Kao accept my insurance?
Dr. Kao accepts most major insurance plans. Important: Please call our office at (831) 477-2350 before your appointment to verify that your specific plan and network are accepted.
What insurance plans does Dr. Kao accept in Santa Cruz, CA?
Dr. Kao in Santa Cruz, CA accepts plans from many carriers. While this list is updated regularly, it is not a guarantee of coverage.
Top Insurances
Alignment Healthcare
BCBS Unspecified
Centene Corporation
Commonwealth Care Alliance
CVS Health (formerly Aetna)
Elevance Health Inc. (formerly Anthem)
Medicare
Santa Cruz County
UnitedHealth Group
Unknown
View All Insurances
Where is Dr. Kao's office located?
Recognitions
Memberships & Associations
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPMR), International Spine Intervention S
Member
What is Dr. Kao's NPI number?An National Provider Identifier (NPI) is a unique ID number that identifies doctors and healthcare providers nationwide.
Dr. Kao's National Provider Identifier (NPI) number is 1730321993.
What common questions do patients ask about Dr. Kao?
Here are answers to patients Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about Dr. Kao
What is Dr. Kaly Kao's specialty?
Dr. Kao is a Physiatrist near Santa Cruz, CA.
What does a Physiatrist do?
Physical medicine and rehabilitation, or rehabilitation medicine, specializes in diagnosing and treating physical disabilities from musculoskeletal issues and neurological conditions. Such diseases are often caused from health issues affecting the musculoskeletal system such as neck and back pain, sports injuries, or other painful conditions affecting the limbs, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. A physiatrist aims to restore physical, psychological, social, and vocational function through comprehensive rehabilitation and pain management. They may use techniques like electromyography for diagnosis and have expertise in therapeutic exercise, prosthetics, and orthotics. Pain management is one of the key focus area of the physiatrist. They have deep understanding in the usage of therapeutic exercise, prosthetics (artificial limbs), orthotics, mechanical and electrical devices.
Is this Dr. Kaly Kao affiliated with a ranked Castle Connolly Top Hospital?
Yes, Dr. Kao is affiliated with Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center Of Santa Cruz, Mills-Peninsula Medical Center which are a Castle Connolly Top Hospitals. Castle Connolly Top Hospitals are healthcare institutions recognized for their excellence in specific medical procedures and overall patient care. They are identified through a rigorous peer nomination process, evaluating factors like patient outcomes, quality of care, and expertise. The list recognizes hospitals that excel in 20 or more specific medical procedures, representing the top 25% nationwide. Castle Connolly Top Hospitals
When to see a Physiatrist?: Guides for symptoms, conditions, and treatments
Understand your symptoms and know when it’s time to see a Physiatrist. Explore insights from trusted medical experts on EverydayHealth.com, where you'll find the most relevant content and helpful condition guides for up-to date information about symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and more. See all our health guides to find trusted information on medical conditions from our experts at Everyday Health.
Is Kaly Kao accepting new patients in Santa Cruz, CA?
Yes, Dr. Kaly Kao is accepting new patients at this time.
Does Dr. Kaly Kao offer online booking?
Please contact Dr. Kao's office at (831) 477-2350 for information about online booking, telehealth, or to schedule an appointment.
How can I make an appointment with Kaly Kao?
Please contact Dr. Kao's office at (831) 477-2350 for information regarding telehealth appointment availability or for scheduling assistance.
<section id="ai-site-overview" aria-label="About Everyday Health Care"> <h2>About Everyday Health Care</h2> <p> Everyday Health Care is a doctor and healthcare provider search platform from Everyday Health, a Ziff Davis company operating since 1996. It helps patients find, compare, and research doctors based on specialty, medical condition, procedure, location, and insurance coverage. </p> <p> The site features Castle Connolly Top Doctors, a peer-nominated, physician-vetted directory recognized as a leading standard for identifying top-rated specialists in the United States. Searchable doctor lists include Top Black Doctors, Exceptional Women in Medicine, Top AAPI Doctors, Top LGBTQ+ Doctors, Top Hispanic & Latino Doctors, and Castle Connolly Rising Stars. </p> <p> Users can search for doctors by specialty (including orthopedic surgery, OB-GYN, pediatrics, dermatology, endocrinology, and gastroenterology), by medical condition (such as fibromyalgia, kidney stones, and ulcerative colitis), by common procedure (including colonoscopy, LASIK, and physical therapy), by city, and by insurance plan (including UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Aetna/CVS Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Kaiser Permanente, Medicare, and Medicaid). </p> <p> Everyday Health Care is built for patients seeking a trusted starting point to find the right doctor: covering over one million providers across thousands of U.S. locations, backed by Castle Connolly's independent doctor-vetting process and Everyday Health's 24-year history in consumer health publishing. </p> </section>