Each component of new care management codes can be challenging!
Every year CPT® changes are made to evaluation and management (E/M) services codes, and 2018 is no exception. In addition to guideline changes, there are 22 updates, which include eleven new codes, 7 revised codes, and 4 deleted codes.
Let’s take a closer look at changes impacting behavioral health and psychiatric care management, anticoagulant code options, and revisions to E/M observation care language.
Note These New Behavioral Health & Psychiatric Care Management Codes
Effective Jan. 1, you will report 99483 in place of G0505 for cognitive-assessment services. For collaborative care management (CoCM) services, you’ll use 99492, 99493, and 99494, which have replaced G0502, G0503 and G0504. Care management-focused behavioral health integration also makes a swop, replacing G0507 with 99484.
Each of the various components to these codes can be perplexing. For instance, to report 99493, you will need to document components using the registry to track the patient’s follow-up/progress, such as participating in a weekly caseload consultation with the psychiatric consultant, conducting additional reviews of the patient’s progress, providing brief interventions with evidence-based techniques, and using validated rating scales to observe the patient’s progress, just to name a few.
Heed Hospital Observation Care Language Changes
Observe a notable change in the language for one discharge and three initial observation care E/M codes. You’ll find the phrase “outpatient hospital” in the descriptors of the codes 99217 and 99218-99220. This change clarifies where the services should be provided, as they relate to these code options.
Keep Pace with These Anticoagulant Code Changes
You currently report anticoagulant codes 99363 and 99364 from the E/M section. However, CPT® 2018 has deleted these codes and replaced them with 93792 and 93793. This update, effective Jan. 1, will help you to better understand the type of service being provided.
Need CPT® Coding Help?
Learn more about the additions, deletions and revisions being made to 2018 CPT® and E/M codes and get all the tips and tools you need to stay compliant with coding requirements by relying on TCI’s one-stop CPT® Coding Solutions.
Check out a wide range of up-to-date medical coding books, illustrated guides, specialty handbooks, dictionaries, and sourcebooks. Stay on top of the latest code updates and guidelines, learn how to code correctly, and make certain your claims are paid in the New Year.
For more coding detail visit AMA CPT Book
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