CPT Codes Defined and Demystified Office Visits, E&M, Evaluation and Management: Distinguish New or Established patient Must have a Diagnosis Charting reflects: Problem Focus, Complexity of History and Exam, Decision Making, and Time Spent with Patient (Exam always includes vital signs) 2009 CPT spiral bound code book pgs. 9 to 10
New Established Must have:
99201 99211 Problem focused history 10 min 5 min Problem focused examination
Straightforward medical decision making (Charting reflects CC + Brief HPI and Exam)
99202 99212 Expanded problem focused history 20 min 10 min Expanded problem focused examination Straightforward medical decision making
(Charting reflects CC + Brief HPI and Exam + Pertinent ROS)
99203 99213 Detailed history 30 min 15 min Detailed examination
Medical decision making of low complexity
(Charting reflects CC + Detailed HPI and Exam + Additional ROS)
99204 99214 Comprehensive history 45 min 25 min Comprehensive examination
Medical decision making of moderate complexity
(Charting reflects CC + Comprehensive HPI and Exam + Complete ROS)
99205 99215 Comprehensive history 60 min 40 min Comprehensive examination
Medical decision making of high complexity (Charting reflects CC + Comprehensive HPI and Exam + Complete ROS) Prolonged Office Visit (+) Coded in addition to an E&M Code (Office Visit) *Some feel these should only be used in unusual circumstances and that if used too often, it will trigger an audit. 2009 CPT spiral bound code book pgs. 25‐27 Direct (Face to Face): Reflects total time spent with patient that is beyond the time usually associated with the coded service. This reflects an Increase in time but not increase in complexity. This does not include time spent doing procedures, as those have their own time allotments.
+99354 30‐74 minutes total time spent directly with patient +99355 75‐104 minutes total time spent directly with patient (must be coded as the following: E&M Code + 99354 + 99355) Indirect (without Face to Face): Reflects total time spent before and after direct (face‐to‐face) time spent with the patient that was still related to patient care (eg. Review of extensive medical records or test results, communicating with other professionals/ family members) +99358 30‐74 minutes total time spent indirectly regarding patient care +99359 75‐104 minutes total time spent indirectly regarding patient care (must be coded as the following: E&M code + 99358 + 99359) Preventive Medicine Services Includes “Well Child,” “Screening Gyn Exam,” “Screening Men’s Health Exam,” “Screening Physical” NO Diagnosis addressed at length other than need for screening Distinguish between New and Established patients If an abnormality is discovered requiring additional work perform the key components of an appropriate E&M visit, code for that E&M visit as well and use the ‐25 modifier to indicate this was done in addition to the screening exam. Not for Vaccine risk/benefit counseling and/or administration visits which are coded differently using 90465‐90474. Extent of focus depends on the age and sex of the patient Charting reflects: evaluation and management including age/gender appropriate history, exam, counseling/risk factor reduction interventions, ordering of lab/diagnostic procedures 2009 CPT spiral bound codebook pgs. 29‐30 New Established 99381 99391 Infant younger than 1 year 99382 99392 Early Childhood age 1‐4 years 99383 99393 Late Childhood age 5‐11 years 99384 99394 Adolescent age 12‐17 years 99385 99395 18‐39 years 99386 99396 40‐64 years 99387 99397 65 + years Consultations Must be requested by another physician or other appropriate source (not initiated by patient or patient family) Physician has been requested to give opinion regarding evaluation or management of patient Chart notes must reflect communication back to original referral source via letter or phone call If mandated by third party use modifier ‐32 No distinguishing between New or Established patient
99241 Problem focused, 15 minutes 99242 Expanded problem – focused, 30 minutes 99243 Detailed, 40 minutes 99244 Comprehensive, 60 minutes 99245 High comprehension, 80 minutes Telephone Services: Established patients only Not billed if office visit happened during previous 7 days Not billed if followed up with office visit within next 24 hours Count only the time related to medical discussion Must be supported by chart note detailing discussion and time spent on phone 2009 CPT code book pgs. 31 and 444 Physician Non Physician 99441 98966 5‐10 minutes 99442 98967 11‐20 minutes 99443 98968 21‐30 minutes On–Line Medical Evaluation: 99444 Online evaluation and management service provided by a physician to an established patient, guardian, or health care provider not originating from a related E/M service provided within the previous 7 days, using the Internet or similar electronic communications network. (Do not report 99444 when using 99339–99340, 99374–99380 for the same communication) Gynecology Procedures (other than screening annual exam) Screening annual exam coded as Preventive Medicine Services Coding depends on SPECIFIC AREA Examined and Treated 2009 CPT spiral bound code book pgs. 246‐249 Colposcopy of vagina and cervix if present 57420 With biopsy of vagina or cervix 57421 ‐51 modifier for each additional biopsy site Colposcopy of cervix and endocervix including upper/adjacent vagina 57452 With biopsy of cervix 57455 With biopsy of endometrial tissue + 58110 (use in conjunction with 57420, 57421, 57452‐57461) Endometrial biopsy without colposcopy 58100 Escharotic treatment (verifying 57061 vagina chem. Tx or 17000 minor surgery chem. Application)
Diaphragm (or cervical cap) fitting and instructions 57170 IUD placement 58300 IUD removal 58301 Fitting and insertion of pessary or any other intravaginal support device 57160 IV Therapy All codes include time required to monitor vital signs and perform periodic patient assessment If Evaluation and Management of patient is performed outside of routine vital signs and monitoring during therapy, code for additional appropriate E&M service If hydration is incidental to administration of another fluid, it is not reported separately IV Push, 1 substance 96374 Additional push of new substances +96375 Additional push of same substance +96376 IV Infusion (chart should specify substance or drug) Up to first hour 96365 Each additional hour +96366 Additional sequential infusion up to 1 hour +96367 Concurrent infusion +96368 IV Hydration (do not report if under 30 minutes) 31 minutes to first hour 96360 Each additional hour 96361 Injectibles Given correct J Code according to content of IV Injection IM and Sub Q 96372 Single tendon 20550 Tendon/origin 20551 Trigger Point Injection 1‐2 muscles 20552 3+ muscles 20553 Arthrocentesis Small Joint (hand, wrist, foot, ankle, TMJ) 20600 Medium joint (elbow, shoulder, sacroiliac occasionally ankle) 20601 Large joint (knee, hip, occasionally shoulder or sacroiliac) 20605 Cervical/thoracic facet injection 64470
Cervical/thoracic facet injection, additional injection +64472 Lumbar facet injection 64475 Lumbar facet additional injection +64476 Hydrotherapy Code for the individual components of the specific hydrotherapy performed Constitutional Hydrotherapy: E/M as appropriate (99211) Hot/Cold (not measured in units) 97010 E stimulation (unattended, not measured in units) 97014 E stimulation (attended, measured in 15 minutes units) 97032 Hot Fomentation: E/M as appropriate (99211) Hot/Cold (not measured in units) 97010 Lymphatic drainage, manual therapy 97140 Russian Steam Bath: Contrast bath (by 15 minute units) 97034 Colonic Irrigation: Unlisted therapeutic procedure (by 15 minute units) 97139 (specify activity in chart) (More hydrotherapy procedures will be added as needed) Physical Medicine: 3 potential codes for any type of touch therapy Manual Therapy (highest reimbursement potential d/t highest level of training required): 97140 Includes joint mobilization, manipulation and lymphatic drainage, manual traction, myofascial release (billed by 15 minute increments, usually billed up to 4 units) Neuromuscular Re‐education 97112 Movement, balance coordination, kinesthetic sense, posture and/or proprioception (billed by 15 minute increments, usually billed up to 4 units) Massage 97124 Effleurage, petrissage and/or tapotement (billed by 15 minute increments, usually billed up to 4 units) Authors: Marnie Loomis and Karen Frangos 9/2/09, rev. 10/4/09