CPT Coding Tips
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their Final Rule for the 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule on December 1, 2020 (CMS, 2020). All eyes have been on the Final Rule for a finalization on the much-anticipated office/outpatient Evaluation and Management code updates.
The Refresh With YES: CPT Integumentary – Lesion and Wound Repair Learning Path teaches learners how to code the removal of skin lesions and repair of lacerations, divided into 12-19-minute webinars. This learning path also reviews applicable CPT guidelines, CPT coding examples, and CPT Assistant articles.
In anticipation of the release of COVID-19 vaccines, the AMA has released CPT codes for each of the two COVID-19 vaccines together with administration codes for first and second doses (AMA, 2020). AMA President Susan R. Bailey, M.D., remarked, “An effective national immunization program is key to bringing the coronavirus pandemic to an end. Correlating each coronavirus vaccine with its own unique CPT code provides analytical advantages to help track, allocate and optimize resources as an immunization program ramps up in the United States” (AMA, 2020). The AMA worked closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop the codes.
COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved by the FDA will be covered by Medicare and most private insurers once they are available, according to CMS (2020). An IFC was released to establish that any COVID-19 vaccine that receives FDA authorization via an EUA or licensed under a Biologics License Application (BLA) will be covered at no cost to beneficiaries.
In continuing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, AMA has released two new CPT codes that allow for nucleic acid infectious agent detection for Coronavirus, influenza types A and B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) via a single test (AMA, 2020). Do you want to learn the ICD-10-CM coding guidelines for COVID-19 code U07.1? Sign up for our Respiratory Diagnoses Hot Topics Webinar and find out how to code Coronavirus infections, symptoms, screening, and patient encounters. The webinar on hot coding topics provides an overview of the Official Coding Guidelines for COVID-19. See more here.
The Refresh With YES: CPT Integumentary – Flap Grafts and FNA Learning Path shows learners how to correctly assign codes for Integumentary Procedures, including flap grafts and fine needle aspiration (FNA), divided into 9-18-minute webinars. This learning path specifically discusses CPT coding for flap grafts, such as adjacent tissue transfers/rearrangements and pedicle flaps. The differences in codes for FNA and core needle biopsy (CNB) procedures are explored, and examples of coding FNA procedures with CNB are provided. Learners will also review the applicable CPT Assistant advice and CPT coding guidelines.
The Refresh With YES: CPT Eye Procedures Learning Path provides learners with highlights of eye surgery CPT codes, such as cataract extraction, retinal repair, vitrectomy, and Mohs surgery, divided into 14-29-minute webinars. This learning path goes in-depth on the anatomy of the eye and adnexa. Learners will also review CPT Guidelines, CPT Assistant instructions, and real-world coding scenarios for eye procedures.
The AMA CPT Editorial Panel has expedited the publication of two new CPT codes to document the latest in COVD-19 testing and medical services (AMA, 2020). These new Category I codes for COVID-19 supplies, services, and tests are available for review on the AMA’s Public Health Resource Center (AMA, 2020).
The CPT Editorial Panel conducted a special meeting to expedite the publishing of four new CPT codes for lab tests related to COVID-19 (AMA, 2020). These new CPT codes for laboratory tests, which are available for review on the AMA’s Public Health Resource Center, address the ongoing need to report COVID-19 testing, and include two regular CPT codes and two Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) codes.
CPT coders are familiar with the monthly publication CPT Assistant, but this year another AMA publication is offering an additional resource for CPT news: The CPT Quarterly. The Q2 edition was recently released by the AMA.