General Surgery Coding Alert

You-ll have one less modifier to contend with in 2009.

If you-re used to adding modifier 21 to E/M codes to capture additional reimbursement when your general surgeon spends longer than normal with a patient, now's the time to revamp your coding.

CPT 2009 will delete modifier 21 (Prolonged evaluation and management services), directing you to look instead at the prolonged service codes (99354-99357). Here's the scoop on what you-ll need to know to avoid denials come January.

In the past you-ve been able to append modifier 21 to the highest level E/M codes in a grouping -- for example, 99205, 99215, or 99245. Modifier 21 was an informational code and did not require carriers to give you extra reimbursement. However,

this modifier was often confusing for coders, who didn't always know whether they should add 21 to their E/M services. "Not many practices that I work with were using modifier 21 in the first place," says Heather Corcoran with CGH Billing.

Update: Now, you-ll simply turn to a 99354-99357 (Prolonged physician service with direct [face-to-face] patient contact -) code, rather than modifier 21. CPT will change the introductory notes to the 99354-99357 series for 2009, including the

new statement, "The use of the time based add-on codes requires that the primary E/M service have a typical or specified time published in the CPT codebook."

This change allows coders to provide more description, experts say. "The prolonged E/M service codes clarify whether it was face-to-face time with the patient, and specify exactly the time parameters involved," explains Jennifer Swindle, RHIT,

CCS-P, CPC-EM-FP, CCP, director of coding compliance/charge entry for QLIMG, and director of the coding and compliance division of PivotHealth, LLC in Garden City, N.Y.

Big news: "The most significant change here is that the inpatient prolonged services codes now include both face-to-face and floor/unit time," says Marcella Bucknam, CPC, CCS-P, CPC-H, CCS, CPC-P, CPC-OBGYN, CPC-CARDIO, manager

of compliance education for the University of Washington Physicians (UWP) and Children's University Medical Group (CUMG) Compliance Program. "The provider must still see the patient in order to use the 99356-99357 codes, but all of the time

does not have to be face-to-face. Medicare agreed at the CPT Code Changes Symposium that they would pay for these services even when the time was a combination of face-to-face and floor time. That means that physicians may be able to

earn prolonged services for complex patients who require coordination with other providers, review of multiple tests and studies, or coordination of orders with monitoring throughout the day."

Another plus: The time you-re counting for these prolonged services does not have to be continuous either.

You should code the level of care based on medical necessity and time. Report E/M services 30 minutes beyond the usual service for direct and indirect patient care using prolonged services codes 99354-99357.

Example: A visit, in which the E/M medical necessity level meets the criteria for 99214 (Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, which requires at least 2 of these 3 key component: a detailed

history, a detailed examination, and medical decision making of moderate complexity - Usually, the presenting problems are of moderate to high severity. Physicians typically spend 25 minutes face-to-face with the patient and/or family), takes

60 minutes. This visit would be eligible for an additional prolonged service code of 99354 (Prolonged physician service in the office or other outpatient setting requiring direct [face-to-face] patient contact beyond the usual service; first hour [List

separately in addition to code for office or other outpatient evaluation and management service]) with 99214. Remember that codes 99354-99357 are time based and are add-on codes. You do not need to append a modifier to these codes and you

should not decrease their reimbursement when billed with other primary E/M codes.

2008 method: In the office setting, you could have only used modifier 21 appended to 99215 (- a comprehensive history, a comprehensive examination, and medical decision making of high complexity - Usually, the presenting problems are of

moderate to high severity. Physicians typically spend 40 minutes face-to-face with the patient and/or family) but the visit-s history, physical examination, and the medical necessity might not have warranted reporting this level of care.

If you were one of the lucky few getting paid for 99215-21, CPT 2009 will disappoint you. "Prolonged service of less than 30 minutes total duration on a given date is not separately reported because the work involved is included in the total work of

the evaluation and management codes," according to new CPT notes for 99354 and 99356.

Expect an easier time getting paid for prolonged services that your general surgeon provides face-to-face to a patient. Most payers recognize prolonged services codes for direct patient care, but not for indirect care, experts explain.

Important: Most carriers, including Medicare, will not reimburse for prolonged physician service (99358 and 99359) without direct (face-to-face) patient contact.