DR. TANVEER ABBAS

INTRODUCTION TO CPT

LEARNING OUTCOMESAfter studying this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Explain the purpose of the CPT code set.2. Identify the medical settings in which CPT is used. 3. Describe the content and organization of CPT.4. Identify the symbols, format and punctuation used in CPT.5. Discuss the purpose and use of CPT modifiers, distinguishing

among CPT professional, HCPCS, and facility modifiers. 6. Recognize the importance of using current codes and discuss

ways to stay up to date.7. Compare and contrast the ICD-9-CM and CPT code sets.8. List CPT coding resources and references.9. Recognize when an unlisted code is needed, and identify the

purpose and parts of a special report.10. List the nine steps to properly assign CPT codes and to correctly

select and append modifiers.

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DESCRIPTION OF CPT

• CPT is a coding nomenclature that allows medical procedures to be transformed to numbers• CPT is based on professional services provided by healthcare providers such as physician, nurse practitioners and physician assistants• CPT services include office visits, surgery, laboratory, radiology, pathology, anesthesia and medical procedures

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CPT BACKGROUND• CPT was developed by the American Medical Association (AMA) in 1966.• CPT is still currently maintained by the AMA• CPT code sets

– HCPCS level I (Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System)

• CPT codes maintained by AMA– HCPCS level II

• HCPCS codes maintained by Federal Government

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PURPOSE OF CPT• Reimburse physician services• Trending services provided nationally• Future coding and reimbursement planning• Benchmarking facilities, costs and services• Measuring quality of care and patient outcomes nationally

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ALL CPT CODES MUST BE:• Commonly performed by physicians across the nation• Consistent with mainstream medical practice• Approved by the AMA CPT Editorial Board

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ORGANIZATION OF CPT • Each code is followed by a unique code descriptor explaining the service• More than 8,000 unique CPT codes• CPT codes are 5 digits long• CPT manual includes parenthetical notes

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INTRODUCTION TO CPT• Category I codes are permanent codes• 6 Sections of Category I codes-each with a set of guidelines at the section beginning

– Evaluation and Management (E/M)– Anesthesia– Surgery– Radiology– Pathology/Laboratory– Medicine

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EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT SECTION

• Code Ranges 99201 - 99499• Cover physician services that are performed to determine the best course for patient care

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ANESTHESIA SECTION• Code Ranges 00100 – 01999• Used to report anesthesia services performed or supervised by a physician• Codes include routine anesthesia care

– Pre-op, intra-op, post-op

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SURGERY SECTION• Largest section in the CPT book• Code ranges 10021 – 69990• Divided by body systems

– Integumentary, musculoskeletal, respiratory, digestive, cardiology, urinary, male/female, nervous, auditory/ocular

• Codes are for a surgical package– Pre-op, intra-op, post-op

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RADIOLOGY SECTION• Code Ranges 70010 – 79999• Used to report radiological services performed or supervised by a physician• Codes are selected based on the body part and number/type of view

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PATHOLOGY/LABORATORY SECTION• Code Ranges 80048 – 89356• Cover services provided by physicians or technician supervised by physicians• Complete procedure includes:

– Ordering the test– Taking/handling the sample– Performing the test– Analyzing/reporting on the test results

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MEDICINE SECTION• Code Ranges 90281 – 99607• Codes include the many types of evaluation, therapeutic, and diagnostic procedures that physicians/health care providers perform• May be used by procedures done or supervised by a physician of any specialty

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CATEGORY II CODES• Used to track physician performance in measuring and monitoring patient care• Are alphanumeric codes, start with 1 letter then followed by 4 numbers• Improve quality of care but are not “billable”

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CATEGORY III CODES• Introduced in 2002• They are used to report new technology, services or procedures that do not currently have a CPT code assigned• Located directly after the Category II codes• Allow researchers to track emerging technology

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APPENDIXES• Appendix A

– Lists/examples of modifiers

• Appendix B– Summary of additions/deletions/revisions

• Appendix C– Clinical Examples of E/M Codes

• Appendix D– Summary of CPT Add-on Codes

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APPENDIXES CONTINUED• Appendix E

– Summary of CPT codes exempt from -51• Appendix F

– Summary of CPT codes exempt from -63• Appendix G

– Summary of CPT codes which include conscious sedation• Appendix H

– Alphabetical index of performance measures by clinical condition or topic

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APPENDIXES CONTINUED

• Appendix I– Genetic Testing Code Modifiers

• Appendix J– Electrodiagnostic Medicine Listing of Sensory, Motor

and Mixed Nerves• Appendix K

– Product Pending FDA Approvement• Appendix L

– Vascular Families• Appendix M

– Crosswalk to deleted CPT codes

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PUNCTUATION AND SYMBOLS; Semicolon

– Divides the common portion of a code descriptor from the unique portion

• Bullet– New Code

▲Triangle– Revised code

+ Plus Symbol– Add on code

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PUNCTUATION AND SYMBOLS CONTINUED

Modifier 51 Exempt– Indicates the code cannot be assigned with -51

►◄Facing Triangles– That the code is new or revised since the last year’s edition

Circled Bullet– That conscious sedation is included in code

Lightning Bolt– Is for a vaccine pending FDA Approval

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MODIFIERS• 2-digit characters added to the end of a CPT code• Used to communicate special circumstances surrounding the assigned code• May increase or decrease the amount of reimbursement• Three types of modifiers

– CPT Modifiers– Facility Modifiers– HCPCS Modifiers

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CPT MODIFIERS• Listed in the front cover of the CPT book• List of these:

– 21 -22 -23 -24 -25 -26 -27 -32 -47 -50– 51 -52 -53 -54 -55 -56 -57 -58 -59 -62– 63 -66 -73 -74 -76 -77 -78 -79 -80 -81 – 82 -90 -91 -99

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FACILITY MODIFIERS• There are 13 approved facility modifiers• Some of these are the same of the CPT modifiers• List of these:

– 25 -27 -50 -52 -58 -59 -73– 74 -76 -77 -78 -79 -91

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HCPCS MODIFIERS• Are alphanumeric• Some are in the front of the CPT book and the remaining are in the HCPCS book• Required when filing claims to government payors• List of these:

– Ca -E1 -E2 -E3 -E4 -FA -F1 -F2 -F3 -F4– F5 -F6 -F7 -F8 -F9 -GA -GG -GH -LC – LD -RC -QM -QN -TA -T1 -T2 -T3 -T4 – T5 -T6 -T7 -T8 -T9 -TC

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DESCRIPTION OF MODIFIERS

• -21 – prolonged evaluation and management services• -22 – unusual (increased) procedural services• -23 – unusual anesthesia• -24 – unrelated evaluation and management service by

the same physician during a postoperative period• -25 – significant, separately identifiable evaluation and

management service by the same physician on the same day of the procedure or other service

• -26 – professional component• -27 – multiple outpatient hospital E/M encounters on the

same date• -32 – mandated services • -47 – anesthesia by surgeon• 50 – bilateral procedure• 51 – multiple procedures

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DESCRIPTION OF MODIFIERS

• -52 – reduced services• -53 – discounted procedure• -54 – surgical care only• -55 – postoperative management only• -56 – preoperative management only• -57 – decision for surgery• -58 – staged or related procedure or service by the same

physician during the postop period• -59 – distinct procedural service• -62 – two surgeons• -63 – procedure performed on infants less than 4 kg• -66 – surgical team• - 73 - discontinued out-patient hospital/ambulatory

surgery center procedure prior to the administration of anesthesia

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DESCRIPTION OF MODIFIERS• -74 - discontinued out-patient hospital/ambulatory

surgery center procedure after administration of anesthesia

• -76 – repeat procedure by same physician• -77 – repeat procedure by another physician• -78 – return to the operating room for a related

procedure during the postoperative period• -79 – unrelated procedure or service by the same

physician during the postoperative period• -80 – assistant surgeon• -81 – minimum assistant surgeon• -82 assistant surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon

not available)• - 90 – reference (outside) laboratory• -91 – repeat clinical diagnostic laboratory test• -99 – multiple modifiers

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DESCRIPTION OF MODIFIERS

• -E1 – upper left, eyelid• -E2 – lower left, eyelid• -E3 – upper right, eyelid• -E4 – lower right, eyelid• F1 – left hand, second digit• -F2 – left hand, third digit• -F3 – left hand, fourth digit• -F4 – left hand, fifth digit• -F5 – right hand, thumb• -F6 – right hand, second digit• -F7 – right hand, third digit• -F8 – right hand fourth digit• -F9 – right hand fifth digit• - FA – left hand, thumb

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DESCRIPTION OF MODIFIERS

• -GG – performance and payment of a screening mammogram and diagnostic mammogram on the same patient, same day

• -GH – diagnostic mammogram converted from screening mammogram on same day

• -LC – left circumflex coronary artery• -LD – left anterior descending coronary artery• -LT – left side• -QM – ambulance service provided under arrangement

by a provider of services• -QN – Ambulance service furnished directly by a provider

of services• -RC – right coronary artery• -RT – right side

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DESCRIPTION OF MODIFIERS• -T1 – left foot, second digit• -T2 – left foot, third digit• -T3 – left foot, fourth digit• -T4 – left foot, fifth digit• -T6 – right foot, great toe• -T7 – right foot, second digit• -T8 – right foot, third digit• -T9 – right foot, fifth digit• -TA – left foot, great toe

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CPT UPDATES• New, deleted and changed CPT codes are updated yearly, in October by the AMA and go into effect in January of the following year.• Category III codes are updated twice a year, July 1 and January 1.

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HOW TO ASSIGN CPT CODES AND MODIFIERS

• Step 1: review the complete medical documentation• Step 2: Abstract the medical procedures that should be coded• Step 3: Identify the main terms and related terms• Step 4: Locate the terms in the CPT index• Step 5: Review the codes, descriptors and notes

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HOW TO ASSIGN CPT CODES AND MODIFIERS

• Step 6: Verify the code against the documentation• Step 7: Assign codes for all significant services• Step 8: Assign modifiers, if appropriate• Step 9: Check all possibilities before final code assignment

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HELPFUL CPT CODING RESOURCES• Medical Dictionary• Anatomy & Physiology Text• Current ICD-9-CM, CPT, and HCPCS codebooks• Physician’s Desk Reference• Merck Manual• Contractor’s Provider Manual• Subscription to AHA Coding Clinic• Subscription to AMA Coding Assistant• www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalCorrectCodInitEd• www.cms.hhs.gov/center/coverage.asp

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