General Surgery Coding Alert

Also watch for modifier 33.When CPT® 2011 debuted the subsequent observation care codes 99224-99226, many coders were left scratching their heads. Those new codes featured typical times associated, even though the initial observation care codes 99218-99220 don't have typical times. Get a New Outlook on E/M TimeThe new 2012 edition of your CPT® manual, which takes effect on Jan. 1, will remedy that problem, with the addition of the following typical time guidelines:99218 -- ...Physicians typically spend 30 minutes at the bedside and on the patient's hospital floor or unit 99219 -- ...Physicians typically spend 50 minutes at the bedside and on the patient's hospital floor or unit 99220 -- ...Physicians typically spend 70 minutes at the bedside and on the patient's hospital floor or unitAlthough the specific reasons for the CPT® committee's inclusion of these codes won't be crystal clear until the AMA's November CPT® Symposium, it looks like the addition of [...]