Coding & Compliance Newsletter - December 2009

December 2009

"Are You Prepared for the 2010 CPT Updates?"

It is that time of the year again when everyone should be reviewing all 2010 CPT changes. All billing forms and master files should be updated, since the 2010 additions, deletions, and revisions are effective January 1, 2010.

Listed are some of the top 2010 updates:

1. Medicare is eliminating consult codes – initial office, hospital, and nursing home codes should be billed. You can obtain information related to the crosswalk from your local CMS carrier. You can also check the Federal Register website daily for updates. http://www.federalregister.gov

2. Anesthesia – only one code deletion – 01632

3. Surgery – significant changes:

Musculoskeletal System – 41 new codes, 53 revised codes, 7 deleted codes, and new parenthetical and instructional notes.
Digestive System – notable changes in the Anus section, the Excision subsection where nearly all codes were revised.
Facet joint injections – 6 new codes for reporting paravertebral facet joint injections with image guidance.
Nervous System – 3 new codes include fluoroscopy as a bundled service with the procedure codes.
Radiology – significant revisions are the addition of a series of codes for CT colonography diagnostic and screening procedures, cardiac magnetic imaging.
Nuclear Medicine – CPT codes 78465,78478,78480,78481 have been combined into a single diagnostic nuclear cardiology code 78452.
Cardiac CTA – Category III codes 0144T-0151T- have been replaced with 4 new codes in the Radiology Section
Medicine – a significant number of revisions with the addition of codes to the vaccine section.

By taking the time to review the sections in the 2010 CPT book that pertain to your specialty and making the necessary updates to all billing forms, this will eliminate unnecessary denials and a delay in payments.

If you have any questions or need additional information regarding this article or specific 2010 changes to your specialty, please contact Cindy Tipton at Cindy_Tipton@MED3000.com

For a printable copy of this newsletter, click here CC Newsletter Dec

We wish all of our newsletter subscribers a “Happy Holiday Season”!